$644,000 Jury Verdict for the Death of a Patient Caused by Failure to Refer to Cardiologist in Advance of Surgery

Robert Suryadeth, 64, suffered from valvular heart disease. Before he underwent an outpatient surgery for his back issues, he met with Dr. Aruna Paspula, an internist, who had never seen him before that day.

Dr. Paspula performed an electrocardiogram, listened to his heart, and cleared him for the back surgery.

After the surgery, Suryadeth was discharged to home where he died later that day. An autopsy revealed three blocked coronary arteries and identified the cause of death as cardiac arrest. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Suryadeth’s estate and family sued Dr. Paspula, Suryadeth’s primary care physician, who hired Dr. Paspula to see patients while she was away from her practice, and the primary care physician’s practice.

The lawsuit alleged liability for Dr. Paspula choosing not to refer him to a cardiologist before clearing him for the back surgery in light of his medical history and results of the electrocardiogram. The Suryadeth family asserted that the electrocardiogram was an objective finding and was abnormal.

It was alleged that had a referral been made to a cardiologist, Suryadeth could have undergone stenting of the occluded arteries surrounding his heart and would not have died right after the surgery.

There was no claim for lost income in the lawsuit. The jury signed a verdict for $644,300.

The attorneys representing the Suryadeth family were James Cardea and Jonathan Goldberg.

Suryadeth v. Paspula, No. 423906-V (Md. Cir. Ct. Montgomery County)

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, wrongful death cases, cardiology negligence lawsuits, physician negligence cases, nursing negligence lawsuits and hospital negligence cases for individuals, families and loved ones who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Westchester, LaGrange Park, Brookfield, Stickney, Cicero, Joliet, Bedford Park, Berkeley, Northlake, Rolling Meadows, Glenview, Wilmette, Chicago (Little Village, North Lawndale, Logan Square, Roscoe Village, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Edgebrook, Westridge, Andersonville, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Jackson Park, East Side), Calumet City, Country Club Hills and Arlington Heights, Ill.