Residents of North Carolina may have heard that the family of a Russian boxer who received injuries in a bout intends to file a lawsuit for medical malpractice after it was declared that he is bedridden and may never walk again. Magomed Abdusalamov competed in a vigorous fight in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 2, 2013. During the fight, Abdusalamov suffered a broken hand and jaw. His competitor landed 312 punches, some of which hit the fighter’s head.
After the fight, doctors from the New York Athletic Commission examined the boxer. He complained of headaches, and the physicians administered neurological testing with numbers. After the examination, the doctors stitched up a cut above Abdulsalamov’s eye. The physicians advised him to go to a doctor in the next few days and to have the stitches removed in a week. After dispensing this advice, the doctors left the fighter’s dressing room.
After the doctors left, the athletic commission inspector noticed that the fighter had blood in his urine sample. The inspector recommended that the injured fighter be taken to the nearest hospital by taxi, even though there were two ambulances at the facility. There was a delay before the decision was made to go to a hospital, and there was an additional wait of around 15 to 20 minutes before the handlers could find an available taxi. When the boxer arrived at the hospital, they waited even longer. Abdusalamov went into surgery for the removal of a blood clot in his brain at 1:33 a.m., went into a coma and was later taken to a rehabilitation facility after he awoke.
When time is essential, a failure to diagnose by on-site doctors may lead to worsened conditions. When medical practitioners fail in their duty of care, the families of their victims may have a difficult time recovering as they struggle to pay their loved ones’ medical expenses. It may be possible to hold the health care provider financial accountable.
Source: ABC News, “Injured boxer’s family plans lawsuit“, William Weinbaum and John Barr, February 21, 2014