David Chao may be the team doctor of a popular football team and an orthopedic surgeon. He has operated on many pro athletes but his status does not excuse him from his liability towards his patients.

The 46-year old doctor was recently found negligent by an arbitration panel and ordered to pay $2.2 million to a former patient on whom he performed hip surgery on May 2007. The suit, which was filed on November 2008 alleged that Chao lacerated Kathleen Adams’ femoral artery, vein and nerve during the operation which resulted to chronic pain and a limp.

Surprisingly enough, this is not the first time a million dollar award was imposed against the doctor, in fact this is one of the many negligence complaints filed against Chao. Since 1998, he has been sued 20 times by patients for medical malpractice, personal injury, negligence, and even fraud.

In 2009, he settled with a former patient, Tom Fagan after a faulty knee replacement surgery resulted to the amputation of his right leg. Although his settlement was undisclosed, Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla agreed to a $1.39 million settlement with Fagan.

In her malpractice lawsuit, 54-year old Adams claimed that she has a constant pain in her foot and ankle and has to take 4 types of medication just to make the pain tolerable. She would have to walk with a limp and deal with the pain for the rest of her life because of Chao’s mistake. Her husband, also alleged that he suffered from loss of consortium and comfort because of his wife’s injuries.

The arbitration panel further awarded $150,000 to Adams’ husband David. $250,000 of Adams’ award is for pain and suffering and the rest is for future life care and loss of income.

Also in 2002, Chao was also sued by former patient Abby Joyce Rueckert after he once again severed an artery during surgery. She was awarded $460,000 in damages by a jury.

Chao has consistently denied the accusations against him in court records and said that his previous settlements are not considered admissions of liability.

Negligence committed by a medical professional, whether it involves a faulty diagnosis, an error in treatment, or mistake in illness management can give rise to a personal injury claim or medical malpractice lawsuit especially if a patient suffered an injury because of that negligent act or omission.

Patients have the right to pursue compensation if they are injured by medical professionals or even the healthcare provider because of negligence. But since these type of personal injury lawsuits are difficult to litigate and prove, an expert personal injury attorney should be hired to win your case.