Missouri Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

• $1,675,000 Verdict (Missouri 2024). A 54-year-old woman underwent ulcer surgery at Mercy Jefferson Hospital. Her surgery, performed by a surgeon at the hospital, initially seemed successful. However, eight days later, her abdominal drain began leaking. The surgeon removed it despite her worsening condition. The next day, a colleague diagnosed her with bilious peritonitis and transferred her to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. She underwent multiple surgeries revealing a perforated colon and abdominal tissue necrosis. She ultimately passed away from multiple organ failure seven weeks later. Her adult children, represented by a medical malpractice lawyer, alleged that the surgeon deviated from the standard of care by failing to address red flags indicating a potential bile leak and improperly removing the drain. Defense experts argued that her death was unrelated to the initial surgery. They argued that she had a complex medical history, including a prior gastric bypass and high Motrin use.  The jury did not buy it, finding in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded $1,675,000. 
• $8,200,000 Verdict (Missouri 2024): A woman suffered severe medical complications after a doctor delayed surgical intervention, resulting in the loss of a significant portion of her bowels. The plaintiff experienced a critical delay in receiving surgery for mesenteric ischemia, a life-threatening condition, which led to her requiring surgery to remove nearly six feet of dead bowel. She spent an extended period in the hospital and now requires lifetime total parenteral nutrition. A Clay County jury found the attending doctor and his employer fully liable, marking the largest medical malpractice award against the healthcare provider involved. The award breakdown included compensation for past and future medical and noneconomic damages (the cap will reduce those damages). 
• $10,020,000 Verdict (Missouri 2024): A woman faced severe medical complications following a C-section at Mercy Hospital. During the surgery, a uterine incision was extended, and despite tests indicating no bladder injury, the plaintiff later developed significant health issues. She returned to the hospital days later with symptoms that led to the diagnosis of a stitched left ureter, causing obstruction. Multiple treatments, including a ureteral reimplantation, failed to correct the damage fully, leading to lifelong complications such as voiding dysfunction and recurrent infections. The plaintiff now requires intermittent self-catheterization. The verdict includes past and future economic and noneconomic damages, following a retrial that originally ended in a hung jury.
• $1,000,000 Verdict (Missouri 2023): The plaintiff claimed she underwent surgeries performed at defendant Mercy Clinic East Communities, planned as a right-sided microdiscectomy at T7-T8 to treat her thoracic spinal stenosis. According to the plaintiff, the initial procedure was performed on the wrong side of her body and at the wrong level. The defendant admitted its surgeon initially operated on the wrong area of the plaintiff’s spine and operated on two levels the next day rather than the intended one, but denied negligence.
• $5,008,000 Verdict (Missouri 2022): 58-year-old male patient went to the defendant hospital with complaints of post-surgical swelling and soreness died due to bilateral pulmonary emboli, which allegedly migrated from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which had developed in his right leg. The lawsuit alleged that the hospital failed to order and perform a duplex ultrasound of the decedent’s right lower extremity on an emergent basis, failed to a DVT of his right leg and failed to recognize the decedent’s risk factors for developing dvt and pulmonary embolism.
• $550,000 Settlement (Missouri 2021): Female patient died after receiving medical care and services at the VA St. Louis Healthcare System in the City of St. Louis, operated by defendant United States of America. The plaintiff alleged that the decedent died as a result of injuries sustained in an improperly performed liver biopsy at the defendant’s facility. The defendant denied liability but agreed to a settlement of $550,000.
• $18,254,033 Verdict (Missouri 2020): A 3-year-old girl suffered an E. coli infection. Over four days, she visited a St. Louis hospital’s emergency room three times. The hospital staff discharged her after the first two visits. They finally admitted her on the third visit. Two days into the girl’s hospitalization, she suffered seizures and a stroke. It was later revealed that she developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Because of this, the girl suffered permanent kidney damage. She now required lifelong dialysis. Her family alleged that the hospital staff’s failure to timely diagnose an E. coli infection caused her permanent injuries. The hospital admitted that the girl had an E. coli infection during her ER visits. However, they disputed whether its staff acted negligently.  In hindsight, they should have offered a better malpractice settlement because the jury found a clear failure to diagnose.  A St. Louis jury awarded the family $18,254,033.
• $869,781 Verdict (Missouri 2018): A man underwent a prostate resection at a Sikeston Hospital. The procedure involved a bladder neck incision and a Foley catheter placement. After the surgery, he suffered multi-organ failure. The man was brought to another hospital. Its staff discovered that the catheter was placed outside the bladder. The man died from his injuries. His family alleged that the hospital staff’s negligence caused his death. They claimed they performed an unnecessary bladder neck incision, perforated the bladder, and wrongly placed the catheter. The hospital denied liability, arguing that the man’s comorbidities caused his death. A Scott County jury awarded $869,781.
• $1,358,712 Verdict (Missouri 2018): A 24-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to a St. Louis-area hospital. She was suffering from abdominal cramps, nausea, and right flank pain. The woman underwent an ultrasound. It revealed kidney stones. Her vital signs also showed an elevated temperature and heart rate. A nurse informed a physician of the woman’s vitals. However, the physician did not examine her. The woman was subsequently discharged. The following day, she presented to another hospital. Its staff treated the woman for sepsis. She then underwent a urethral stent placement. During the procedure, the woman suffered a spontaneous abortion. She alleged that the initial hospital’s negligence caused her baby’s death. She claimed its staff prematurely discharged her, failed to timely diagnose and treat a urinary tract infection, and failed to timely address her vitals. A St. Louis County jury awarded $1,358,712.
• $14,245,545 Verdict (Missouri 2017): A man presented to an emergency room. He was suffering from significant abdominal pain. He came under a D.O.’s care. The man underwent a CT scan. It revealed hepatic gas. The radiologist recommended an ultrasound. The D.O. then consulted another physician, who recommended an outpatient ultrasound. As a result, the man was discharged without undergoing an ultrasound. Several days later, he returned with continuing pain. The man was diagnosed with mesenteric ischemia. He developed short bowel syndrome. The man required IV fluids, parenteral nutrition, and medications. He also underwent an end jejunostomy, a superior mesenteric artery bypass graft, and a mesenteric thrombectomy. Following the procedures, the man developed sepsis, kidney failure, and a non-healing abdominal wound. He alleged that the hospital staff’s negligence caused these permanent injuries. The man claimed they failed to timely perform an ultrasound, failed to timely perform additional imaging, and prematurely discharged him. The hospital denied liability, arguing comparative negligence. A Franklin County jury found the hospital and D.O. 65 percent negligent, the consulted physician 25 percent negligent, and the man 10 percent negligent. They awarded a $14,245,545 verdict.
• $7,564,660 Verdict (Missouri 2017): A woman suffered severe back pain. The hospital admitted her. Its staff treated the woman’s back pain. They then placed an antecubital IV on her left arm. The following day, the hospital staff observed bleeding around the IV site. The woman’s daughter requested that they change the site and replace the IV. A nurse ignored the request. She partially pulled the IV out, moved it around, and pushed it back in. The woman was subsequently discharged. She returned the following day. The woman was diagnosed with encephalopathy, sepsis, respiratory failure, and kidney failure. She also developed an antecubital fossa thrombosis and MRSA. The woman died from her injuries. Her family alleged that the hospital staff’s negligence caused her death. They claimed they failed to replace the IV and its location, timely diagnose a thrombus, and recognize the issues with the IV. The hospital denied liability. A Buchanan County jury awarded $7,564,660.

If you are looking for the average medical malpractice settlmement in Missouri, we do not have an exact figure for you. But we estimate the average settlement is approximately $250,000.  The cap on malpractice pain and suffering damages in Missouri really has an impact on cases that do not have significant economic damages.