Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Family Files Suit In Wake Of Meningitis Death

   Testimony continues in a Weakley County courtroom this week in connection with negligence allegations a local family filed in the wake of the death of their daughter.

   The lawsuit was filed in the wake of the June 2006 death of Lawrenceburg native Jodi Woods, a senior Special Education major at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

   Woods died as a result of a meningococcal meningitis infection for which she had sought medical attention at Volunteer Community Hospital. Family members allege that the attending physician, registered nurse, and the hospital were negligent in their treatment of Woods. They allege that she was misdiagnosed and that the treatment given was wrong and ineffective. The family is seeking $10 million in damages.

   Woods was taken to the hospital’s emergency room around 2:00 p.m. that day. By 6:52 p.m. she had reportedly moved through the rapid and painful progression of the disease and was unresponsive. Within minutes her breathing had failed.

   Woods was airlifted to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital at 7:30 p.m. and remained in a coma there for the following four days before the family was faced with the prospect of discontinuing life support.

   Evidence in the case was presented in Weakley County Circuit Court throughout the previous week. On Wednesday defense testimony was continuing.

 

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