August 21, 2003

A Cave City woman reported to a dermatologist for treatment of suspicious-looking moles on her ankle.  A nurse performed a biopsy, but the wound thereafter was slow to heal.  The woman had to undergo a surgery to clean the infected wound.  Plaintiff alleged the nurse performed a “punch” biopsy, a procedure a nurse is not qualified to perform, and that the nurse’s negligence in using this biopsy led to infection.  The defendant, represented by James Grohmann, argued that the nurse actually used a “shave” technique, one which the nurse was qualified to perform, and that the infection was brought on by the patient’s own negligence and smoking habits.  The Hardin County jury returned a verdict in favor of the nurse.