Georgia Jury Awards Family $17M for Hospital Malpractice

A DeKalb County family has been awarded more than $17 million in after a jury found a physician’s assistant liable for causing a man’s brain injury.

Sheriod Merritt was hit by a stray bullet in a shooting and was taken to Grady Hospital for surgery. His parents said he was in a coma when they came to pick him up.

The Merritt’s attorney said an Emory University anesthesiologist and a Grady physician’s assistant didn’t follow proper procedures when Merritt was coming out of surgery. A civil complaint alleged Merritt went without oxygen for seven to eight minutes.

Grady spokeswoman Denise Simpson told WSB-TV that Merritt violently awoke from anesthesia and fought with medical personnel. In the process, she said his breathing tube came dislodged. The hospital is appealing the ruling.