A jury in a medical malpractice case has awarded $12 million to a Connecticut woman who said a doctor punctured her colon during a routine hernia operation.
The lawsuit by 65-year-old Vivian Gagliano of Redding said the surgical mistake sent her into a monthlong coma and resulted in permanent injuries including the loss of most of her large intestine.
Jurors in Danbury Superior Court handed down the award Friday after about 3 hours of deliberations.
Gagliano sued two doctors and Danbury Hospital over the botched 2008 operation. Her lawyer, Joshua Koskoff, said a surgical resident perforated her colon, and doctors didn't realize it until after they closed the surgical incision and she developed a massive infection.
Hospital officials said they disagree with the verdict and are considering an appeal.
