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Patient gets $40 m. damages

Silicon Valley: An Indian-American has been awarded $40.1 million as compensation in the U.S. after a malfunctioning machine burnt his heart, forcing him to go for a transplant.

Lawyers for Paramjit Singh (54), had asked for up to $38 million in damages and the award is the one of the largest personal injury verdicts in Washington.

Mr. Singh was admitted to the Providence Everett Medical Center in October 2004 for cardiac surgery. However, a monitor malfunctioned, causing a catheter to overheat and burn his heart, his lawyer said.

The manufacturer of the monitor blamed the hospital for using a damaged cable.

The jury ordered the manufacturer to pay 99.99 per cent of the damages to Mr. Singh and his family while the hospital will pay the remaining. The decision came after five weeks of testimony. The award included $8.35 million in punitive damages. — PTI

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