Two Martin Walker PC cases were recently featured by the state capital’s NBC news affiliate in an investigative report on Texas medical malpractice lawsuits.
The KXAN investigation revealed that the Texas Medical Board had failed to disclose the disciplinary histories of some Texas doctors on its website.
“Even when the courts determine a doctor is liable for medical malpractice — including cases where somebody died — patients and the public are often still left in the dark,” the article read in part.
The investigation detailed a $43 million negligence verdict secured by firm founders Reid Martin and Jack Walker on behalf of plaintiff Billy Pierce against Tyler-based East Texas Medical Center and one of its doctors, finding the hospital grossly negligent in its retention and supervision of a doctor on probation.
The other case highlighted the story of Roy Ross, whose family was represented by Martin Walker PC in a medical malpractice lawsuit against an area hospital and anesthesiologist, alleging the providers failed to intubate Mr. Ross during treatment of an esophagus tear, which resulted in his death.
Despite the jury verdicts, these doctors’ records appear clean on the Texas Medical Board’s website.
“Because the doctor in Pierce’s case was found at fault for malpractice by a jury, with appeals exhausted, under Texas law the outcome should be public on the medical board’s website,” the investigation reads. “Despite that requirement, we found no record of any lawsuit listed when you search the doctor’s name.”
Click here to read the full report.
