Challenge to malpractice payout against HCA affiliate reaches Colorado Supreme Court

The Colorado Supreme Court is hearing an appeal in a malpractice lawsuit against Lone Tree, Colo.-based Sky Ridge Medical Center, its operator and physicians Edward Ehrichs, MD, and Michael Rauzzino, MD, according to an April 11 report from Colorado Politics

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Daniel Scholle sued the system and its physicians for negligence following a 2015 procedure that led to severe infection and 100 days in the hospital’s intensive care unit. 

A Denver jury awarded Mr. Scholle $9.3 million for past and future medical expenses and lost income despite the state’s $1 million cap on medical malpractice suits. Mr. Scholle showed there was good reason to exceed the cap, according to the report.  

A three-judge panel for the court of appeals overturned the decision, capping Mr. Scholle’s damages at $1 million. 

Mr. Scholle died during the appeal, but his widow has taken his place in the lawsuit and is challenging the decreased payout, the report said. 

The hospital is operated by Denver-based HealthOne, which is owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

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