Myrtle Beach fans of the late actor Bill Paxton might be interested to learn that his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a surgeon who operated on him there. Paxton died on Feb. 25, 2017 at the age of 61.
He had undergone an operation by the surgeon who is named in the suit and who is no longer employed at the hospital. He died of the stroke that he suffered 11 days after the surgery, and this was found to be his cause of death. His family’s representative said at the time that he had died from complications related to surgery.
The attorney for Paxton’s family said that they and Paxton had trusted the hospital and physician and their trust had been betrayed. He also said that the hospital and doctor did not protect Paxton and that the surgeon’s actions resulted in the actor’s death.
Actions leading to a wrongful death lawsuit may occur in a variety of contexts in addition to hospital errors. For example, the death might be the result of an accident or even a crime. It could have happened because of a person’s inaction or because of a deliberate action. Compensation from a wrongful death lawsuit may include funeral and burial expenses and the loss of financial contributions. The latter can be particularly important if the decedent was the breadwinner. Families who believe they have lost their loved one in a situation related to negligence might want to meet with an attorney and discuss how to proceed.
Source: Daily News, “Bill Paxton’s family sues surgeon and hospital for wrongful death“, Peter Sblendorio, Feb. 13, 2018