Jessica Powell’s life took a dramatic turn in 2013 when she suddenly collapsed inside her home from hormone deficiency disease coupled with a stomach virus…dailymail, Georgia Teacher, 28, collapsed at home… then woke up with no legs. Now she has won $70 million, By Kelly Garino
Powell was rushed to Putney Memorial Hospital after collapsing, only to be hit with a devastating diagnosis of sepsis and shock once under the medical team’s care. Doctors pumped Powell with a massive dose of Vasopressin, administering a dose two-and-a-half times higher than the maximum safe amount for a singular person over a 40-hour period.
Since Vasopressin works by constricting blood vessels, Powell alleged that the overdose caused a dramatic drop in blood flow to the lower half of her body, specifically her legs and feet and ultimately starved them of oxygen. Morgan, one of the doctors named as at fault, allegedly brushed off Powell’s care when he was called in to manage complications as the powerful drug was pulled and blood flow began returning to her body.
However, what was meant to save Powell’s life cost her both legs.
On April 23, a Dougherty County jury awarded Powell, now 40, $70 million after taking only 30 minutes to rule in her favor, marking one of the largest awarded payouts in the state of Georgia for a medical malpractice case.
After reviewing two and a half weeks’ of evidence, the court found the blame to fall on doctors Joe Morgan, James Palazzolo and Thomas Ungarino, along with Albany Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates and Albany Vascular Specialist Center.