$755K Awarded To Woman With Flesh-Eating Bacteria
GRAND RAPIDS (WWJ/AP) - A jury has awarded $755,000 to a Grand Rapids woman who developed flesh-eating bacteria.
More than three years ago, Kelly Robinson walked into the Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital emergency room, seeking treatment for a sore throat.
The Grand Rapids woman's sore throat eventually progressed into flesh-eating bacteria that spread to the tissue in her neck. She remained in a medically induced coma for more than a month and on a feeding tube for more than a year.
Robinson has scars that cover much of her body and has undergone multiple surgeries.
After suing the hospital and a physician's assistant, a jury this week awarded Robinson $755,000.
Her lawyer, Kevin Lesperance, said at least $155,000 of the money will go to the State of Michigan and Medicaid. The 44-year-old Robinson hopes to use the rest to go back to school.
The Grand Rapids Press reports Spectrum Health plans to appeal the decision.
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