Mass. Jury Awards $14.5M in Surgery Malpractice Case

A Bay State jury has awarded $14.5 million to the family of a 30-year-old Chelmsford, Mass. woman who died one day after undergoing thyroid surgery at Brockton Hospital.

The lawyer for Shannyn MacPherson’s husband said she developed uncontrolled bleeding that resulted from air trapped in her abdomen.

Attorney Robert Higgins said the Superior Court jury found the lead surgeon, Dr. John Ambrosino, negligent and responsible for MacPherson’s death in May 2001. A second surgeon, Dr. Julie White, was also found negligent, but not responsible for the death.

Abrosino’s lawyer, Martin Foster, would not comment on Monday’s verdict or say whether his client planned to appeal.

Higgins said the verdict was “bittersweet” for MacPherson’s husband, Brad.

The award includes about $5 million in interest.