Palmetto Mother Files Lawsuit After Amputation Linked to Hospital Care
A Manatee County mother of three is seeking accountability after losing her leg, alleging that delays and a lack of specialized care at Manatee Memorial Hospital caused her above-the-knee amputation.
Hailey Van Dam of Palmetto was rushed to the hospital on July 2, 2024, after experiencing numbness in her legs. Doctors determined she had an arterial blockage, known as acute leg ischemia, a condition requiring surgery within hours to save the limb. Her attorney, Wes Straw, claims Van Dam waited nearly 20 hours before hospital staff realized they could not provide the necessary vascular care.
According to the lawsuit, Manatee Memorial had indicated in its state licensing application that vascular surgeons would be available on-site around the clock. Van Dam was eventually transported to Tampa General Hospital, where doctors discovered a heart tumor causing clots in her legs. Despite surgeries, her left leg had to be amputated.
Van Dam’s case has raised concerns about hospital protocols for emergency vascular care and whether state regulators will review the incident. Her attorney said potential outcomes could include fines or licensure issues for the hospital.
Manatee Memorial, now under new leadership following the departure of its former CEO in 2024, declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
For Van Dam and her family, the amputation has meant significant lifestyle changes, loss of work, and fear of financial instability. The lawsuit seeks to hold the hospital accountable for what her attorney described as a failure that permanently altered her life.
