Nationwide — Jamie White, an African American woman from Prince George’s County, Maryland, who lost her leg after a hospital allegedly delayed treatment, has won $18 million in a malpractice lawsuit. She claims the hospital’s slow response after a fall caused the amputation, changing her life forever.
In 2020, White, who was then 23 years old, slipped on ice while walking to work and dislocated her knee. She was rushed to Prince George’s Hospital Center, where the injury required urgent care. According to Fox 5 DC, her attorneys said crucial surgeries were delayed for hours, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to her leg.
Over the next eight months, White endured nearly 30 surgeries in an effort to save her limb. Despite all attempts, doctors had to amputate above her knee. She calls the experience sudden and devastating, saying, “You wake up regular one day, and then all of a sudden, one day, it all comes spiraling down.”
Now a mother of two, she focuses on her children and showing them resilience. Her attorney, Karen Evans of the Cochran Firm, said the verdict carries a broader message. “The standard of care should be the same, no matter where you get care,” Evans said.
The University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center defended its actions, stating it believes White received timely and appropriate care. Maryland law limits non-economic damages, like pain and suffering, so White will likely receive around $4.5 million of the $18 million jury award.