Football fans in San Diego and around the country who tuned in on Sept. 20 to watch the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers may have been surprised when the two teams took the field. Tyrod Taylor had played quarterback for the Chargers the previous week and had been expected to keep his place, but it was his backup Justin Herbert who called the signals against the Super Bowl champions. It was later revealed that Taylor had been sidelined by a botched medical procedure.
Injection punctures lung
The Chargers announced after the game that Taylor did not play due to complications from a painkilling injection he received in the locker room. Media sources revealed on Sept. 23 that the doctor who administered the injection punctured the quarterback’s lung. Taylor was given the injection to help him cope with a rib injury. Before the game, media outlets had reported that Taylor would be wearing a flak jacket for additional protection.
Players Association weighs in
The medical mishap has already caused Taylor to miss three games, and it is not known when he will be able to return to action. After learning about the botched injection, a senior executive from the NFL Players Association announced that the organization was exploring both their legal and medical options. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn has made clear that Taylor will return to the starting lineup as soon as he is medically cleared to play.
Holding negligent doctors responsible for their mistakes
Medical mistakes like this one occur with frightening regularity. When doctors or hospitals make serious errors, personal injury attorneys with experience in this area could initiate medical malpractice lawsuits seeking compensatory damages for patients who suffered harm. If the facts suggest that the physician or medical facility acted with gross negligence, attorneys could also ask the jury to award punitive damages.