A woman who gained attention after experiencing severe skin damage due to an incorrect medication dosage has faced another setback—she has lost a medical malpractice appeal.
Khaliah Shaw recently took to TikTok to express her frustration as a lengthy legal battle, spanning over a decade, wrapped up disappointingly. In an emotional video, she exclaimed, “I lost! How could I lose? I hate this country. How can a doctor do what they did to me and not even lose their job? My life is messed up for the rest of my life. I am permanently disabled.”
What happened to Khaliah Shaw?
Back in 2013, Shaw received a prescription for lamotrigine, a mood-stabilizing medication, at a clinic in Georgia for her depression. The medication has strict warnings about severe skin reactions if the dosage is increased too quickly, but unfortunately, Shaw’s dosage was raised too fast.
Shortly after, she developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, conditions that led to her skin blistering and peeling. Furthermore, she was placed in a medically induced coma for 37 days and woke up with injuries that would alter her life permanently.
She shared on her GoFundMe page, “I woke up to a body I did not recognize. I had to relearn how to walk, eat, swallow—everything. I had to leave school in the middle of my master’s program in health education. I haven’t been able to fully recover from this ordeal.”
Did Khaliah Shaw win her lawsuit?
Shaw filed a lawsuit against the nurse practitioner, pharmacist, and others involved in her care. Initially, a jury awarded her over $40 million in damages. However, due to Georgia’s apportionment law, each defendant is only liable for the portion of fault assigned to them by the jury.
One comment on her TikTok post, which she found relatable, pointed out that she “got NOTHING from the facility because under GEORGIA LAW they are IMMUNE from liability because they are part of the GOVERNMENT.” As the facility was found responsible for a significant portion of her case, she was only able to recover a small fraction of the jury’s award.
After attempting to appeal the decision, arguing she should receive the full amount, she mentioned, “the higher courts refused to hear my case. The Supreme Court wouldn’t even grant review.”
Her initial lawsuit had cited that her medical costs had already exceeded $3.45 million as of 2017. Currently, estimates indicate that the total may be around $4.5 million. After legal fees, she noted she only received a tiny fraction of what was awarded, leaving her feeling even more frustrated, especially since her disability has rendered her unable to work.
Frustrated viewers offer support
In recent years, Shaw has utilized TikTok to highlight issues within the U.S. medical, health insurance, and legal systems. Since posting her emotional video on Tuesday, which garnered over 3.8 million views, she has shared numerous videos explaining her situation, discussing nuances of her experience, and addressing systemic racism in healthcare. Most of these videos have attracted tens of thousands of views.
The comments on her videos primarily express support and frustration on her behalf. One commenter wrote, “Your rage is SO JUSTIFIED.” Another noted, “This is the most valid crashout I’ve ever heard.” Additionally, some viewers referenced Luigi Mangione, who gained notoriety after being charged in the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, becoming a figure of discontent against health insurance practices.
While Shaw appreciates the support she’s received, she acknowledges that not all responses have been positive. “It’s sad that people are blaming me when the parties involved were already proven to be at fault. State laws prevented me from getting justice,” she remarked.
Shaw is currently exploring alternative avenues for seeking justice and has pointed people to her GoFundMe. “I need a new attorney because I suspect there was corruption in my representation. After paying all the fees, I don’t have what I need to care for myself moving forward!”
