Medical Malpractice: Verdicts, Settlements, and Experts

On March 23, 2017, Decedent presented to Undisclosed Hospital for total left knee replacement surgery. The surgery went well and Decedent began recovery in stable condition. Decedent started physical therapy before being discharged from the hospital. On March 26, 2017, Undisclosed Hospital employees failed to monitor Decedent and he fell during physical therapy. The orthopedic surgeon who operated on Decedent was immediately made aware of the fall, but before the orthopedic surgeon could do an examination, Decedent fell again, severely damaging the injured knee. The orthopedic surgeon immediately took Decedent back to the operating room to attempt to repair the extensive damage done to his knee during the two falls. Decedent had a dislocated, fractured patella, quadriceps rupture, and a large surrounding hematoma. The orthopedic surgeon repaired Decedent’s knee, placed a wound VAC, and transferred Decedent to the ICU. On March 28, 2017, Decedent was started on Ativan, Precedex, and Librium. As a result of being severely over-medicated, Decedent became unresponsive and suffered a PEA arrest requiring CPR and intubation. Following the PEA arrest, Decedent’s health deteriorated rapidly.