Nationwide — Jonathan Buckelew, a 34-year-old man from Roswell, Georgia, who suffered a stroke after a chiropractor visit, has been awarded $75 million in damages after doctors failed to diagnose him in time, leaving him permanently paralyzed.
In October 2015, Jonathan passed out during a routine neck adjustment. He was rushed to North Fulton Hospital, but doctors missed the signs of a stroke. Despite clear symptoms, no stroke alert was called. The delay cost him dearly.
He developed locked-in syndrome — a rare condition where a person is fully conscious but completely unable to move or speak. The damage was irreversible.
The court case that followed revealed serious errors by multiple healthcare providers, including the chiropractor, the hospital, Dr. Matthew Womack, radiologist James Waldschmidt, and neurologist Christopher Nickum. The Fulton County court found two of the doctors, Womack and Waldschmidt, guilty of malpractice. Jonathan received $29 million for medical costs and $46 million for pain and suffering.
Today, Jonathan can only communicate through eye movements and a special keypad he controls with his nose. His parents, Jack and Janice, care for him at home around the clock. They say Jonathan struggles emotionally with his condition and sometimes wishes for relief from his suffering.
“He wants to do things, he wants to go places — it just breaks our heart to see him like he is,” his father told the New York Post. “There are some days where he’s like ‘pull the plug,’ so those are the tough days.”
Jonathan’s attorney says hospital staff ignored clear warning signs and failed to follow proper stroke protocols, which could have saved Jonathan from paralysis. Womack still plans to appeal, while Waldschmidt withdrew his appeal.