Alabama Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Results in $3M Verdict

An Alabama jury awarded $3 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a man who bled to death following ulcer surgery. 

The medical malpractice lawsuit was filed by the family of Laboyish Catlin, 37, who died in January 2006. His death came several days after having duodenal ulcer surgery at Baptist Princeton Hospital.

According to the allegations raised at trial, Catlin bled to death due to negligent care at the hands of the medical team. He received multiple blood transfusions following the surgery, but doctors failed to truly stop the bleeding, the lawsuit alleged. Catlin was sent home afterward, where he died. The lawsuit claimed that the medical staff failed to provide proper follow-up care.

Last month, a Jefferson County Circuit Court jury agreed that negligence and medical malpractice led to Catlin’s death and awarded the family about $3 million.

According to a report by The Birmingham News, the defense argued at trial that anemia, alcohol use, and the use of over-the-counter medication were contributing factors to Catlin’s death. The defendants also claimed that Catlin’s ulcer was unusually large and could not be treated with standard surgical procedures.

Duodenal ulcers are located in the small intestine, unlike a gastrointestinal ulcer, which is located in the stomach. Duodenal ulcers are usually a symptom of peptic ulcer disease and are often associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or bisphosphonates.