Woman Sues Over Drunken Leg Amputations

A western Pennsylvania woman who drank herself unconscious celebrating her 20th birthday says a hospital didn't properly treat her, resulting in partial amputations of both of her legs.

Shanna Hiles' medical malpractice suit against Uniontown Hospital and one of its emergency physicians says she passed out while sitting on the floor with her legs tucked under her in May, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Hiles was in that position for more than 12 hours, and she claims hospital officials didn't properly diagnose her condition and work to restore circulation to her legs.

Instead, Hiles claims she was transferred to a Pittsburgh hospital several hours later where both legs were amputated at the knee.

A hospital spokeswoman has declined to comment on the suit filed Tuesday.

[RadGal]

I hope the judge throws her case out. How stupid can her lawyers be? She caused her own injuries.

[national1942]

Doesn't somebody here see even a TINY bit of responsibility in the ER for allowing her to remain in that position withoug doing something about it?. They, of all people, know what that can do to the limbs and it seems to me that someone in there should have stepped up and said, something to the effect of, we need to HELP this lady and get her off her legs...drunk or not, since that is what their job is.

[wyrdotter]

Um, no, not really. Perhaps, if she didn't drink herself stupid (while underage) and do the damage to herself, but she did and she did. Even if she was in the ER when she passed out, and it doesn't appear that she was, it is their job to treat sick and injured people, not babysit drunks and time how long they've been in any given position. If she was unconscious for 12 full hours, she should be sending up prayers of gratitude that she only lost part of her legs and didn't die of alcohol toxicity.

[-ScreamingMonkey-]

She wasn't in the ER, she was at a party when she passed out.

[stryker54]

To be passed out for 12 hours before she was SENT to the hospital by amblunce. That is alot of booze for some one 20 years old to be passed out. This is her fault, no one else's. But the Dr.s and hospital will have to pay because the DEMOCRAT lawyer says to feel sorry for her. She was mis-treated by all.

[bluedenmant]

Are you brain dead or just stupid?

[cgirltruck]

Please explain to me what "the DEMOCRAT lawyer" has to do with this. Politics does not have to be responsible for everything ya know.

[fo_sho_yo]

This is a terrible accident, but look at the bright side. Maybe now nobody will want to sleep with her and she'll win the Darwin Award?

[liselle3]

What a dumbarse... Yeah sue, sue for your stupidity and make someone else have to pay. Typical.

[eeyorelrn]

There is nothing that ANY physician could have done to save this young womans legs. Loosing circulation for 12 hours killed off the cells in her legs. Restoring circulation is a mute point. Once tissue dies, it has to be removed or its decomposition will flood the body with toxins. This young woman was not only dringink illegally at the age of 20, she was irresponcible enough to put herslef in a atiuation that caused her to loose her legs. Not only do I hope that her lawsuit is dismissed, I hope that she is made to apologize to the doctors that worked hard to save her live.

[rockcutr]

While I don't condone the young gals actions...THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THIS!!!These are the doctors who are going to benifit from the health care bill.
The comedian Gallager used to sing: "And the totally amazing thing is, that I get paid for doing this."
Singing of his sledge-o-matic....
A lot like the saw the dr used on the drunk chick.
Not funny. BArely good enuf if the dr looses his liscence....oh yea,,,malpractice insurance is mandatory. So, no harm no foul. Right?...not so much.

[tammydel2009]

20 year olds do not have the capacity to think as an adult. What a shame this is a way for this person to learn a lesson. Hopefully this story might scare a young person into thinking twice before drinking themselves unconscience.
Anyway, I believe the hospital will be held responsible for letting her be in that position, while waiting to be treated.

[newsterl]

Nah, as is typical, everyone has to BLAME someone else for their own problems, if that someone else happens to be a rich doctor, hospital with loads of insurance then so much the better since filing a suit will almost always result in at least an out of court settlement to make it go away.
a 20 year old is an ADULT and this idiot drank herself even more stupid than she was, not considering that in such a state she could have been gang raped or worse.

[lizfromtown]

Her "friends" propped her up over the toilet while sitting her fat butt on her calves for 12 hours! 12 hours! Her legs were dead hours before they even brought her to the hospital. The first few hours in the ER, they probably spent trying to save her life because of unstable vital signs.

Our health costs increase further because this drunk thinks she is going to win the lottery. I hope she doesn't get a jury of welfare trolls which will give her money!

[Hosheen]

Hmm, I think they should go after whoever it was that held the gun to her head and forced her to get drunk. What? No one did?

"I was drunk and didn't know what I was doing." is not an excuse, it's a confession. She was stupid and paid the price with her legs. I doubt that she'll learn from that. I'll bet she'll get drunk again the first excuse she can think about for doing it. She shouldn't get a dime, but a medal for "Stupidity above and beyond human understanding".