Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Weakley County Jury Returns Not Guilty Verdict In Woods Wrongful Death Suit

   A Weakley County Jury ruled in favor of an area hospital Tuesday morning when they returned a “not guilty” verdict in the wrongful death suit regarding the death of Lawrenceburg native Jodi Woods.

   The lawsuit was filed in the wake of the June 2006 death of 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 alleged that the attending physician, registered nurse, and the hospital were negligent in their treatment of Woods. They alleged that she was misdiagnosed and that the treatment given was wrong and ineffective. They had sought $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.

   The jury heard evidence throughout last week. They began deliberations around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday. The panel returned to the courtroom around 11:15 a.m. They ruled in favor of the hospital, finding all accused “not guilty” of criminal negligence.

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