I was 14 years old when my mum came home from the hospital and told me my father had died. "How did it happen?" I asked. "Why did it happen," my brother questioned. "What happened?" asked our dazed and confused family.
From that day forward, I began to learn what a malpractice lawyer does. I learned that we had more questions than answers. My dad was young, only 46 years old. He wasn't supposed to die. He had a house with three young children. He was gainfully employed and worked hard to furnish for our family.
New York Lawyer
Our lawyer got the hospital records, and he had a healing master report the records. The more our lawyer probed, the more questions we raised. "Why was he given that medication?" "When did the nurse arrive?" "Why wasn't a blood test ordered?" "What happened when..."
Years later, while I was in college, our case came up for trial. I joined my mom for part of the trial, since it was while final exams. Being in Court was unfamiliar territory. Everything was formal. The procedures, the words, the questions-all need explaining. Our lawyer was a big-time lawyer whose hair was gray and was respected by numerous lawyers who passed him in the hallways in the courthouse. Their nods and greetings were deferential- with respect for his accomplishments and greatness.
I watched with fascination the rapt attention everyone had while cross-examination of the former target in the case- a young doctor in training who committed the gravest of healing sins. Our lawyer was intense. The barrage of questions put to the young unapologetic doctor were non-stop. The answers were not satisfactory to our lawyer, or to the jury, or so it seemed to me.
The tension in the Court room was palpable and created knots in my stomach. The defense attorney was gentlemanly and put on airs. In my book he was a phony and I was hoping the jury would see through it.
Closing arguments came after three weeks of trial. I managed to arrive just as the trial resumed that day. I rushed from school to be in Court with my mom. What I witnessed that day caused me to apply to law school. Before that day, I was a biology major and was intent upon applying to healing school. You see, my father was a doctor and most of my house are doctors. I thought that was the path I'd plainly take. Not after witnessing end remarks.
It is now twenty three years later and I vividly remember the day our celebrated lawyer made his end remarks to the jury hearing our malpractice case. Neither the lawyer or my mum are alive today, but my memory of that trial lives on till today.
I remember most clearly the accusations directed at the young fresh doctor. I saw his red face and neck. I wanted to reach across the aisle of the courtroom and pummel him with my fists. That would be true justice! That would satisfy my anger that had built up for years waiting for this disputed case to come up for trial. Fortunately for the doctor, my senses overcame my desires to quash this exiguous bug. He never knew what I wanted to do to him that day.
On that day, I realized that this lawyer- this lowly looking, gray-haired man, who had fulfilled, great things legal- was telling a story so uncomplicated and clear that I realized anyone could do this. That day, I decided to come to be a lawyer.
One would think that with such a great lawyer anyone would be possible. Unfortunately for my family, the results were not what we would have hoped. Despite this second loss, the first being losing my dad, I picked myself off and sent out those law school applications. I had one thing on my mind...to come to be a trial lawyer.
I've been a healing malpractice trial lawyer for the past 17 years now. The first 4 years as a defense lawyer representing doctors, hospitals and folks sued in crisis cases. The next 13 years I spent representing injured victims in their quest for justice. When asked by a colleague which I prefer, representing injured victims or the wrongdoing doctor, my rejoinder has all the time been clear...the injured victim.
My sense helped me understand what injured citizen have endured. It has allowed me to be more generous about the citizen I have the privilege of representing. This is my calling.
This is a true story.
My Father Was a healing Malpractice Victim - A True Story
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