R.I. Heart Patient Wins $2 Million Malpractice Award

A Warwick man who claimed he suffered brain damage because he didn’t receive proper care during open heart surgery at Rhode Island Hospital has won a $2 million award from a Superior Court jury.

With interest, the award could be worth up to $3.6 million.

Richard Barrett said in his lawsuit against the hospital and Dr. William Feng that he got low amounts of oxygen to his brain during the 1998 operation.

His lawyer says Barrett’s brain damage erased some memories of his children, affected his ability to form new memories and impaired his ability to communicate.

A lawyer representing the hospital and the doctor says Barrett got excellent care. David Carroll plans to file a motion for a new trial, and if that is denied, pursue an appeal to the Supreme Court.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/