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is underrated."
Ms. Wargo's week-long medical malpractice trial in 2009 was
marked by finger pointing. The surgeon blamed the anesthesia assis-
tant for not stemming the flow of oxygen when he activated the
Bovie. The anesthetist claimed she didn't hear the surgeon. The jury
found the surgeon to be 100% responsible for the fire, exonerating the
anesthesia assistant.
"It was a miscommunication," says Ms. Wargo, who was awarded
$872,000 for her pain and suffering and $425,000 in punitive damages.
On appeal, the award was capped at about $300,000. After medical
bills and her attorney's 40% take, she received a check in 2012 for
about $100,000.
"It was never about the money," she says. "It was about figuring out
what happened and getting the apology, which I never did get from
the doctor. It took years of my life away to get over this."
Ms. Wargo's facial scars and discoloration have healed remarkably
well. She suffers from severe dry eye in her left eye; her tear duct
scarred over and her eyelid doesn't close all the way. "It's funny — I
never knew surgical fires were possible," she says. Don't you make
the same mistake. OSM
