Jury awards woman $1.5M in medical suit

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JEFFERSONVILLE (AP) — A southern Indiana jury has awarded $1.5 million to a woman who alleged that a doctor’s decision not to perform surgery left her with a debilitating disorder.

Michelle Wells Fischer’ lawsuit alleged Dr. William H. Garner III’s decision led to the removal of most of her small intestine in 2003.

A Clark County jury last week found Garner liable for Fischer’s injuries.

The New Albany woman’s suit alleged she went to Floyd Memorial Hospital in June 2003 with abdominal pains and Garner scheduled surgery for the next day, only to decide against it and left for a weekend trip.

Two days later, Fischer underwent emergency surgery that found her entire bowel had died.

Garner’s attorney says her hasn’t decided whether to appeal.