Georgia residents joined the nation in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. In 1969, American astronauts became the first human beings to step foot on our closest celestial neighbor. The astronauts who completed this mission attained a level of fame during their respective lives, but one may have lost his life as the victim of medical malpractice.

Neil Armstrong is credited with being the first man to walk on the surface of the moon, and is quoted proclaiming the now famous “One small step for man…” speech. Mr. Armstrong dedicated his life to helping people understand space travel and inspiring thousands of others to follow their dreams and, well, shoot for the moon. Sadly, his family was fighting a secret legal battle to prove that his death in 2012 was avoidable, and the result of medical malpractice.

Mr. Armstrong underwent an emergency heart procedure at the age of 82. Newly public legal documents reveal that, after the operation, a nurse attempted to remove wires from his heart, causing him to bleed internally, but rather than operating immediately, doctors attempted to drain the blood but were unsuccessful, and the astronaut and hero to many died shortly thereafter. The official cause of death was complications following the surgery, and his family took up the fight for justice. The hospital publicly denied any responsibility for his death but refused to prove the claim in court, and the family was awarded a financial settlement of $6 million.

If a Georgia resident is the victim of medical malpractice, there is legal action that can be taken. Medical bills, burial costs, lasting pain and suffering, and other woes can fall upon a victim to handle. Victims or their families may want to contact an experienced attorney to help hold the medical facility that caused the damage accountable in a court of law, and collect any damages or compensation to which a victim or, in the event of death, a victim’s estate, may be entitled.