$8.5 Million Jury Verdict for the Permanent Injury to Patient’s Urethra During Catheterization

Matthew Hipps, 44, was to undergo abdominal surgery, which required stenting of his urethra. He consented to having the catherization done by the head of the urology department at Virginia Mason Medical Center. While in the midst of the catherization, a urology fellow placed a tube inside Hipps’s urethra, which met with resistance. The fellow then used a hemostat to open the tip of Hipps’s penis before placing the catheter inside the urethra. A hemostat, which is also called a hemostatic clamp, is a surgical tool most often used to control bleeding.

As a result of the forced opening of the urethra, Hipps suffered a tear and developed scarring inside his urethra. He now suffers discomfort when engaging in intercourse and has difficulty urinating.

Hipps sued the hospital alleging that the fellow negligently used the hemostat during the procedure and improperly dilated the urethra. The lawsuit did not include lost income.

The jury signed a verdict for $8,500,000.

The attorneys successfully handling this case were Michael S. Wampold, Ann H. Rosato and Kevin Coluccio.

At trial, counsel for Hipps presented experts in urology.

Hipps v. Virginia Mason Medical Center, No. 2015-2-03115-5 (Wash. Super. Ct. King County).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling medical malpractice lawsuits, nursing home negligence lawsuits, hospital negligence cases and surgical error lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of a medical provider for more than 40 years, in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Barrington, Alsip, Arlington Heights, Elmhurst, Rolling Meadows, Morton Grove, LaGrange Park, Wheaton, Hinsdale, Olympia Fields, Willowbrook, Chicago (Ashburn, Marquette Park, Archer Heights, Washington Heights, Beverly, Morgan Park, Roseland, Lake Calumet, Burnside), Western Springs, Wood Dale and Highland Park, Ill.