Overview of a Malpractice Settlement Involving Torrevieja Salud Hospital
The legal assistance provided by the Patient Advocate association in conjunction with Berkshire Hathaway Insurance, the insurer for Torrevieja Salud hospital, secured a compensation settlement for a patient who experienced an amputation after medical treatment. The case underscores the impact of medical decisions on patient outcomes and the role of legal recourse in pursuing due compensation.
The patient first sought care at Torrevieja Hospital on January 21, 2021, after sustaining a trauma to the left shoulder. Medical records describe a dislocated left proximal humerus with significant joint fragment displacement and involvement of the tuberosities. The clinical team scheduled a left shoulder arthroplasty for January 26 to address the injury and restore joint function. During the surgical procedure, surgeons noted bleeding from a macroscopic vessel, which they believed to be a vein rather than an artery. Hemostasis was performed in an attempt to control the bleeding, but the team did not anticipate arterial injury or subsequent complications.
In the hours following the operation, the patient developed arterial ischemia. This serious vascular complication involved thrombosis within both the deep and superficial venous systems. The deterioration was not addressed promptly, and after more than 48 hours, the patient faced a grim prognosis with the risk of losing the left limb. Despite efforts, amputation of the affected limb became inevitable in the clinical trajectory that followed.
In response to the events, the Patient Advocate legal services filed a property claim against the Ministry of Health of the Valencian Community. A technical report from the Health Services Inspection and an expert assessment prepared by a digestive system specialist were leveraged in the process. The documentation concluded that the postoperative arterial ischemia and venous thrombosis were mismanaged, constituting malpractice in the treatment of the patient’s complication. The claim framed the incident within a standard of care evaluation and highlighted the link between the medical actions and the adverse outcome.
During the administrative proceedings, a settlement was reached with the hospital’s insurer, Berkshire Hathaway European Insurance. The agreement provided compensation of 450,000 euros to the affected party, reflecting the accountability for medical decisions that influenced the patient’s health trajectory. The resolution demonstrates how medical negligence cases can lead to substantial settlements when expert evaluations corroborate deviations from established clinical guidelines and patient safety protocols.
From a broader perspective, this case illustrates the importance of thorough postoperative monitoring and timely intervention when vascular complications occur after orthopedic procedures. It also highlights the role of patient advocacy groups and insurance entities in facilitating settlements that acknowledge harm, while reinforcing the need for ongoing improvements in surgical care, risk management, and patient safety measures within hospital settings. The outcome may offer guidance to other patients and families navigating similar difficulties, reaffirming that proper evaluation, documentation, and legal counsel can influence the course of complex medical-legal disputes. Attribution for the findings comes from internal technical and expert reviews conducted as part of the administrative process, which sought to establish a clear connection between care decisions and the patient’s long-term consequences.