Patient awarded $1.2M from Henry Ford Macomb over burn injuries

Candice Williams / The Detroit News
Mount Clemens -- A Macomb County Circuit Court jury on Wednesday awarded $1.2 million to a 78-year-old woman for burns she suffered as a patient at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

Valerija Milosevic of Washington Township suffered burns to her face resulting from a hospital resident's actions in October 2007, according to her lawyers from Sommers Schwartz P.C.

Milosevic had been recovering from a heart attack at the hospital when she fell out of bed and suffered facial fractures and a deep cut over her eye. To treat the cut, the resident used a device, a thermal cautery, that was placed near Milosevic's supplementary oxygen.

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"The manufacturer warns against using in an enhanced oxygen environment," stated Milosevic's case summary. "When placing the cautery near the oxygen, it exploded, resulting in severe burns and permanent scars to Valerija's face and shoulder."

In a statement this morning, Henry Ford Macomb Hospital representatives said they respect the jury's verdict.

"We again extend our sympathy to the patient and her family for the unforeseen incident that occurred," read the statement.

cwilliams@detnews.com (586) 468-0529  

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