Brayden Smith was the last 5-time Jeopardy champion during the Alex Trebek era of the highly popular television game show. Indeed, Smith is considered to be “the last great champion” of the time period that Jeopardy was hosted by Trebek. Smith had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. His condition worsened and Smith underwent surgery to have his colon removed. Three weeks after what is deemed to be a relatively routine surgery, Smith was dead.
The specific surgical procedure is called a colectomy and end ileostomy. It is undertaken when a person’s ulcerative colitis has progressed to the point that it has caused significant damage to the colon. Such was the case with Brayden Smith
Smith’s family reports that the Jeopardy champ was dead three weeks following the accident. During that time period, he was extremely weak. As it turns out, Smith’s surgeon indicated that he should have been an anticoagulant like heparin following the surgery. The medication is designed to prevent dangerous blood clots. It commonly is utilized following surgeries.
As it turned out, although the doctor made a note that Smith needed to receive some type of anticoagulant following the surgery, the medication was never provided. As a result, dangerous blood clots began to develop in Smith’s vascular stream. He ultimately developed blood clots on his lungs. These blood clots were the cause of Smith’s demise. Medically speaking, he died from what is known as pulmonary emboli.
Medical experts emphasize that the use of anticoagulants following colon surgery of this nature is particularly important. These experts indicate that patients who undergo colorectal surgery are especially susceptible to pulmonary emboli. In other words, the reasonable standard of medical care following the type of surgery performed on Smith is for the use of an anticoagulant post-op.
Smith’s mother tweeted in the aftermath of Brayden’s death:
We are heartbroken that our dear Brayden Smith recently passed away unexpectedly. We are so grateful that Brayden was able to live out his dream on Jeopardy.
Justice and Compensation in a Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Case
The nature and extent of compensation possible in a medical malpractice wrongful death claim depends on the specific facts and circumstances surrounding the case. Having said that, there are certain types of losses that result in compensation in a successful medical malpractice wrongful death case. These include:
- Lost wages and support
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Final medical expenses of deceased family member
- Funeral and burial costs
- Lost companionship
In some cases, an award of punitive damages may be possible. Punitive damages represent additional financial compensation in certain medical malpractice cases. This additional money is awarded in a medical malpractice lawsuit when conduct of a healthcare provider is deemed to be particularly reckless or egregious. In some ways, punitive damages are designed as a punishment for this egregious conduct and to attempt to prevent a repeat of this type of conduct as some future point in time.
Your Legal Rights and a Doan Law Firm Medical Malpractice Wrongful Death Lawyer
If you have lost a family member as the result of medical malpractice, the legal team at The Doan Law firm is here for you. We can schedule an initial consultation with an experienced medical malpractice wrongful death lawyer by calling our firm at (800) 349-0000. We keep out medical malpractice wrongful death lawyer hotline staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, including all major holidays.
We are a nationwide law firm with 40 offices located across the United States. We can also schedule an initial consultation and case evaluation with a skilled, tenacious medical malpractice wrongful death attorney online as well. There is never a charge for a consultation and case evaluation with a Doan Law Firm medical malpractice wrongful death lawyer.
The Doan Law Firm makes an important attorney fee guarantee to you. Our firm never charges an attorney fee unless we win your case for you. Our medical malpractice wrongful death lawyer team is dedicated to fighting tirelessly to obtain justice and the compensation you deserve in your case.