Linda Shelly, 56, suffered from various health problems including hypertension, congestive heart failure and diabetes. When she experienced shortness of breath, she was admitted to a local hospital, where a CT scan revealed a retroperitoneal cyst. The next day, Dr. Muthiah Thangavelu, a general surgeon, performed surgery to remove the…
Articles Posted in Surgical Errors
$11.88 Million Jury Verdict for the Negligent Recommendation of a Total Knee Replacement
Matthew Standley had a history of osteomyelitis, bone disease or bone infection, 14 knee surgeries, and numerous skin grafts and muscle harvests. When he experienced pain in his left knee, he consulted osteopathic orthopedic surgeon Dr. Melvyn Rech. Several weeks later, Dr. Rech performed a left knee arthroscopy, meniscectomy, a…
State Appellate Court Reverses Jury Verdict Against Hospital for Negligent Credentialing Without Proof that the Physician was Unqualified
St. Luke’s Surgicenter-Lee’s Summit LLC appealed the circuit court’s judgment against St. Luke’s after a jury trial. The gist of the claim was for negligent credentialing. The claim had been brought by the plaintiff, Thomas E. Tharp and Paula M. Tharp, his wife. The jury found in favor of the…
$2.4 Million Jury Verdict in Failure to Evacuate Stomach Contents Before Lap Band Surgery
Vincent Minor was 28 years old when he underwent gastric bypass surgery. He developed an obstruction, which caused his stomach contents to back up above his lap band. During the surgery to remove the lap band, he began vomiting and aspirated vomit. He later developed pneumonitis and acute respiratory distress…
$5.09 Million Jury Verdict for Negligent Use of Surgical Tack Applier Used to Secure Surgical Mesh
Ms. Doe, age 67, underwent elective laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair surgery. The procedure was completed by Dr. Roe, a surgeon, along with a nurse’s assistance. During the surgery, Dr. Roe used a tack applier to secure surgical mesh needed to patch an opening in Ms. Doe’s diaphragm. The next day,…
$135 Million Jury Verdict for Failure to Diagnose, Treat Postoperative Problem: Permanent Quadriplegia
Faith DeGrand was just 10 when she was diagnosed with congenital scoliosis. To try to prevent the condition from worsening, Faith underwent surgery by a pediatric orthopedist, Dr. Eric Jones. In this surgery, Dr. Jones inserted hardware in Faith’s thoracic spine. After this surgery, Faith experienced incontinence, numbness in her…
$109.76 Million Jury Verdict for the Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Negligence in Laparoscopic Gynecological Surgery
Lisa-Maria Carter, 45, was seen as an outpatient at Tampa General Hospital to remove an ovarian cyst. The staff physician, Dr. Larry Glazerman, performed a Hassan laparoscopic procedure aided by two resident physicians. During the surgery, Dr. Glazerman transected Carter’s bowel. She was admitted to the patient floor several hours…
$500,000 Jury Verdict for Injury to Patient Whose Eyesight Was Harmed by Negligent Cataract Surgery
Deborah DeFranko was diagnosed by ophthalmologist Dr. Taylor Poole as having cataracts. Dr. Poole performed cataract surgery on DeFranko’s eyes over the course of one month. During the cataract procedures, Dr. Poole placed Toric lenses in both eyes. A Toric lense is a contact lense that is shaped in a…
$400,000 Jury Verdict for Negligent Face-Lift Surgery
Shelva Kostrzewa underwent a face lift that was completed by a plastic surgeon, Dr. Thomas Beird. She was 64 years old at the time. It was alleged in the lawsuit that she suffered severe scarring and disfigurement, which led to emotional distress. Kostrzewa sued Dr. Beird and his professional corporation…
$1.53 Million Jury Verdict for Unnecessary Surgery
A $1.53 million jury verdict was entered following the jury trial of 50-year-old Joseph Miller. Miller was referred to Bay Area Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine for evaluation of a bone spur in his right heel. Dr. Vivek Sood, an orthopedic surgeon, removed the bone spur and also did an Achilles…