‘How could I lose?’: Woman whose skin ‘melted off’ from medication error screams after losing $40 million malpractice appeal – blames ‘corrupt’ system

A Georgia woman who suffered devastating injuries after her skin “melted off” from a medication error has lost her final appeal in a decade-long legal battle, leaving her with only a fraction of her $40 million jury award. Khaliah Shaw’s case has drawn national attention as an example of how state laws can limit patient recoveries in medical malpractice cases.

In 2013, Shaw was prescribed lamotrigine, a mood-stabilizing drug, at a Georgia clinic to treat her depression. The medication carries strict warnings about dangerous skin reactions if the dosage is increased too quickly, but Shaw’s dose was escalated faster than recommended. Within weeks, she developed Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, severe conditions that caused her skin to blister and peel off her body.

Shaw was placed in a medically induced coma for 37 days and woke up with permanent, life-altering injuries. In an emotional TikTok video that has gained millions of views, Shaw screamed her frustration: “I fking lost! How could I lose? I hate this fking country. How can a doctor do what they did to me, don’t even lose their fking job? My life is fked up for the rest of my f**king life. I am permanently disabled.”

What Stevens-Johnson Syndrome does to patients

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition where the skin essentially burns from the inside out. Shaw lost 90 percent of her skin, her fingernails, sweat glands, and much of her vision. She had to relearn how to walk, eat, and swallow. The condition has a mortality rate of 5 to 15 percent for Stevens-Johnson Syndrome cases and up to 40 percent for the more severe toxic epidermal necrolysis form. Shaw’s case highlights serious concerns about hospital patient care standards, an issue that continues to plague healthcare facilities across the country.

Shaw initially won her lawsuit against the nurse practitioner, pharmacist, and others involved in her care, with a jury awarding her more than $40 million in damages. However, under Georgia’s apportionment law, each defendant is only responsible for the percentage of fault the jury assigns them. Since the government facility was deemed responsible for a large percentage of what happened but was immune from liability under Georgia law, Shaw could only recover money from the remaining defendants.

Her medical bills have reached approximately $4.5 million, but after legal fees and the limitations imposed by state law, Shaw received only a small fraction of her jury award. She appealed the decision, arguing she should be able to recover the full amount from those she sued, but higher courts refused to hear her case. Shaw’s situation demonstrates how challenging it can be to win legal battles against powerful institutions, even when court victories seem within reach.

The case highlights problems with Georgia’s sovereign immunity laws, which protect government-operated medical facilities from liability. Critics argue these laws unfairly limit patient recoveries and protect healthcare providers at the expense of victims. Shaw’s situation has sparked discussions about the need for legal reform to better protect patients who suffer from medical negligence.