St. Petersburg, Florida – In a groundbreaking medical malpractice case, a Florida jury awarded an additional $50 million in damages, bringing the total penalty against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to over a quarter billion dollars. The jury found the hospital liable on all counts, ruling that it wrongfully separated Maya Kowalski from her mother, who tragically took her own life. This case was prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary “Take Care of Maya.”
The jury’s decision was based on a range of offenses committed by the hospital. They found that the facility had placed the child under video surveillance for 48 consecutive hours and had made her strip down to shorts and a training bra for a photograph. Furthermore, a hospital staffer had engaged in misconduct by kissing the 10-year-old and having her sit on her lap.
Maya Kowalski had been admitted to the hospital in 2016 for treatment of a painful neurological condition. Her mother, Beata Kowalski, demanded aggressive ketamine treatment, citing its previous effectiveness. However, doctors became concerned about the mother’s demands and eventually diagnosed her with Munchausen by proxy syndrome, a form of child abuse where a parent fabricates or exaggerates a child’s symptoms.
The hospital reported the suspected child abuse to Florida child welfare authorities, leading to Maya being made a medical ward of the state and separated from her family. Tragically, Beata Kowalski took her own life three months later, unable to bear the loss of her daughter.
The jury’s decision brought some relief to Maya, who clutched her mother’s rosary beads and sobbed uncontrollably. In addition to the compensatory damages awarded to the Kowalski family, the jury also imposed $50 million in punitive damages to punish the hospital’s wrongdoing and discourage similar actions. The hospital has expressed its intent to appeal the ruling, claiming that the trial was marred by prejudicial errors.
This case has shed light on the issue of medical malpractice and the responsibility of hospitals to provide proper care and treatment to their patients. It serves as a reminder of the immense impact that medical negligence can have on individuals and families.