Shortly after coming out on top in court, Maya Kowalski has broken her silence after jurors find a hospital liable in a $220 million malpractice case.
The Kowalski family had been suing Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida for the whopping amount, and were awarded this sum after a jury reached a verdict on 9 November.
Maya Kowalski had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) when she was 10-years-old.
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She had received some treatment previously in Mexico, but was later admitted to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHAC) for the neurological condition as she said she was experiencing severe pain.
When admitted to the hospital, medical staff concluded that her symptoms were not real and her parents were accused of medical abuse. Maya’s mother, Beata Kowalski, took her own life in January 2017 after 87 days of being restricted from seeing her daughter.
Their lawsuit accused the hospital of wrongfully committing Maya and said they should not have separated her from her mother.
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After years of unanswered questions, the hospital was found on Thursday to be liable on multiple claims, including the wrongful death of Beata, false imprisonment, battery, and inflicting emotional distress on Maya and her mother.
Following an eventful trial, Maya spoke to reporters after the hospital was found liable.
As heard on Court TV, she said: "For the first time I feel like I've got justice. To a lot of people that is unfortunately something they can't feel, and I'm just blessed I could feel that for myself, for others, and for my mom."
Maya then went on to show the media pieces of jewellery dedicated to her mom, including a pendant encompassing herself and her late parent.
While she has her victory now, Maya certainly went through it in court, including getting rather emotional after an attorney claimed she exaggerated her symptoms.
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The hospital's attorney, Ethen Shapiro, suggested that Maya exaggerated and highlighted some early conclusions made by doctors.
During which Maya was seen getting up and leaving the courtroom.
“We heard from the emergency department physician Dr. Pittsenbarger that upon his first visit with Maya in the emergency department, she was able to show good upper and lower extremity strength by kicking with both legs,” Shapiro said.
“Now his diagnosis is fitting of that [of another doctor]. That the behaviors were a concern for a psychiatric component, possible conversion disorder.
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“Again, this is not a question of somebody saying that Maya is faking it, this is real. But it calls for a different treatment pattern."
If you have been affected by the affected by the issues in this article, you can call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Support is also available via live chat at 988lifeline.org
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