The widow of a popular high school coach that committed suicide after being prescribed pain killers for more than ten years without visiting the prescribing doctor, has won a medical malpractice lawsuit that claimed negligence, as reported by The Post-Standard and others.
J.M., 51, worked as a teacher, assistant principal and basketball coach in the 28 years he was at Henninger High School before he took his own life on September 12, 2009.
His widow was awarded $1.5 million after the state Supreme Court jury found that Dr. W.B.'s negligence caused the death of J.M.
The people acquainted with J.M. were shocked to learn, only after the lawsuit had been filed, that he had committed suicide. Most considered him to be upbeat and fun loving.
J.M.'s widow argued in the suit that her husband's physicians should have paid closer attention to his condition, and not just medicate him. Had they done so, according to the suit, J.M. would not have killed himself.
According to J.M.'s widow, "There's no way he would've wanted to do it. It was done to him. It was done because of the improper care he received." She added that J.M. often complained "like his head was on fire" and once said to her "I wish I could just open my head up and hose it off and close it back up again. Then I'd feel OK.'"
Dr. W.B. had been prescribing the anti-depressant Paxil for several years – and 10 of those years he had failed to see J.M. When J.M. needed a refill he called the doctor, left a message and the doctor would return the call, leaving another message that the prescription had been filled.
Dr. W.B. was placed on probation for three years by the state health department this past February for prescribing drugs without seeing patients for several years. He was further disciplined by the state for his own personal abuse of drugs and alcohol – and two more years of probation were added to his original three.
Another physician in Dr. W.B.'s employ, Dr. E.M., was found negligent as well, however, her negligence was not found to be a contributor in J.M.'s death. Dr. W.B. was found 100 percent responsible.
The breakdown of the award is as follows: $800,000 to J.M.'s widow for loss of income, $200,000 will go to his youngest daughter, $100,000 to each of his two older daughters and $324,000 in interest. The total payout will be $1.524 million.
A basketball court at Henninger High has been repainted to reflect that it has since been named in J.M.'s memory.
J.M.'s widow concluded, "It's just what the medical community does – medicate, medicate, medicate. I hope through this that people are aware, so they can step it up and question and do more than I did and (J.M.) did, so this doesn't happen to them. If this can save another person, that's what I want to happen."
A physician that doesn't heal but instead harms is a physician others should be warned about. Filing a lawsuit not only helps you receive a monetary award for damages, but also serves to educate your community. Click here for our directory and contact a medical malpractice attorney near you today!