Ms. Doe, 63, underwent a hysterectomy performed by Dr. Roe. Almost three weeks after the procedure, she was admitted to a hospital where testing showed that she had a gangrenous cecum. Ms. Doe underwent two colectomy surgeries, was hospitalized for three weeks and required a month of inpatient rehabilitation. Ms.…
Articles Posted in Surgical Errors
$175,000 Settlement for Improper Wound Treatment Leading to Gangrene, Revision Surgery
Mr. Doe, a diabetic who suffered from peripheral vascular disease, underwent a partial leg amputation. While undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, Mr. Doe developed symptoms of a gastrointestinal bleed and was readmitted to the hospital. During Mr. Doe’s 5-day stay, his attending medical providers did not assess his surgical stump and nurses…
$1.4 Million Settlement for Failure to Diagnose Liver Cancer
Daniel Scavetta, who had a history of intravenous drug abuse, began seeing internist Dr. James Agresti. Dr. Agresti prescribed Suboxone. After a colonoscopy revealed multiple polyps, including one that was too large to remove, Scavetta was referred to a colorectal surgeon, Dr. Joel Nizen. A CT scan showed a 1.9…
$2.3 Million Settlement for Negligent Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Ms. Doe, 41, underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy that was performed by Dr. Roe, an obstetrician. During the procedure, Dr. Roe discovered that a morcellator was unavailable and that the doctor could not complete the surgery as she had anticipated. A power morcellator is a surgical tool that surgeons use to…
$950,000 Settlement Reached in Medical Malpractice Case for Failure to Reveal Liver Lesion to Patient
Thomas Lapsley went to a nearby hospital emergency room where doctors ordered a CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis. The scan revealed a lesion on his liver. A follow-up liver CT scan was ordered to rule out metastatic disease. There was nothing in the report as to the symptoms…
$6.25 Million Jury Verdict for Injuries Suffered for an Unnecessary Hip Replacement
Elizabeth Njinga suffered from back pain for a long period of time. She was referred to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Michael Alexiades. The doctor reviewed her x-rays and ordered an MRI. Dr. Alexiades told Njinga that she had moderate degenerative changes in her hip and that her pain was coming…
$500,000 Settlement for Failure to Timely Diagnose and Treat Nerve Injury
Mr. Doe, age 55, underwent surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his right bicep. After the surgery, he complained to Dr. Roe, the surgeon, that he had numbness and tingling and could not feel his right hand. Dr. Roe ordered an x-ray and allegedly told Mr. Doe that a…
$19.9 Settlement in Negligence, Wrongful Death After Attempted Heart Transplant
Mr. Doe, a 59-year-old carpenter, suffered from myocarditis. He was placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) heart transplant list. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The condition can affect the heart muscle and the heart’s electrical system, reducing the heart’s ability to pump. It can…
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Reverses Defendant’s Leave to File Affirmative Defense Long After the Statute of Limitations Had Run
Almost seven years into this lawsuit, after discovery had been closed and with a summary judgment deadline looming, the defendants in this case, Dr. Partha Ghosh and Wexford Health Sources Inc., raised the affirmative defense of res judicata for the first time. This was an unexpected motion to dismiss an…
$500,000 Jury Verdict in Medical Malpractice Case for Negligent Use of Metallic Surgical Staples
Heather Effler was seen at a hospital’s emergency room where she was diagnosed as having an infected urachal cyst. A urachal cyst has been defined as a collection of tissue and fluid between the bladder and the belly button. In most cases, this cyst forms as a remnant of the…