Allegations of Liability: Failure to appro- priately and timely treat hypotensive patient in emergency room.
Injuries/Damages: Jane Doe was survived by her mother and nine-year-old daughter.
Plaintiff ’s Expert: Timothy Bessent, M.D. (Emergency Room Medicine)
Verdict/Settlement: The case was settled for $600,000.
Plaintiff’s Counsel:␣ David F. Albright, Jr. (MTLA member) Horn & Bennett, P.A., Baltimore, MD
________
Sims vs. Liberty Nursing Home, et al Western District of Virginia
Facts: Plaintiff had successful bypass sur- gery at Winchester Medical Center. A known diabetic, He was released from the hospital to Shawnee Springs Nursing Home. While at the nursing home, he developed a blister on the dorsum of his foot and some toes began to turn blue. The nursing home initially failed to do anything and ultimately he was readmit- ted to the hospital where it was reported that he had swelling, redness and a prob- able infection. While at the hospital, he developed DIC and ultimately lost por- tions of all four limbs. The case was settled the day of trial.
Plaintiff’s Experts: Alan Mackintosh, M.D. (family prac- tice medicine, standard of care, causation, damages); John Spratt, M.D. (cardiovascular sur-
gery, standard of care, causation, damages); James Vogel, M.D. (hematology, stan-
dard of care, causation, damages); F. Julia Olijnyk, R.N., M.S.N.P.C. (dam- ages)
Defense Experts: Michael Potter, M.D. (vascular sur-
gery, standard of care, causation); Ronald Sacher, M.D. (hematology and
vascular medicine, standard of care, cau- sation); Gary Simon, M.D. (infectious disease,
standard of care, causation); Joseph Giordano, M.D. (medicine,
standard of care, causation, damages); Nancy Kuss, R.N. (nursing homes,
eldercare, standard of care); William Edmondson, Jr., M.D. (infec- tious disease);
Spring 2001
Robert Raynor, M.D. (standard of
care); Malcolm Cothran, Jr., M.D. (standard
of care) Settlement: $576,250.00
Plaintiff ’s Counsel: Barry J. Nace (MTLA member) Paulson & Nace ,Washington, DC
Defense Counsel: Liberty Nursing Homes, Inc. Brad Kelly, Laura J. Oberbroeckling (Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.); Steven Curiale, M.D. and WSC, LTD: Gary A. Godard and Patricia C. Karppi, (Godard, West & Adelman, P.C.); B.N. Chambers, M.D.: C.J. Steuart Thomas, III (Timberlake, Smith, Thomas & Moses, P.C.)
________
Chu, Adm. vs. Washington Hospital Center District of Columbia
Facts of Case: Yang Wang, a radiologist in his native China, came to the United States to take some courses and, eventu- ally, immigrate.
After finishing the
courses and registering for additional courses while still without a valid visa, he
was struck by a truck while on his moped and suffered a fractured leg. He did not lose consciousness at the scene and he was transported to Washington Hospital Cen- ter. While being examined and x-rayed, he was given a pain killer, Fentanyl. Fen- tanyl is a narcotic that is known to potentially cause respiratory depression and, if not treated, respiratory arrest. According to the records, about ten min- utes after receiving Fentanyl he received the antidote, Narcan. Fifteen minutes later he was given additional Narcan and oxygen. Within fifteen minutes of hav- ing the second dose of Narcan he went into a respiratory arrest. A Code was called and he was intubated. Surgery was then performed to fix his fractured leg. He died within 24 hours of being admit- ted to the Washington Hospital Center without ever regaining consciousness. Plaintiff contended that Wang was not
monitored appropriately after the admin- istration of the Fentanyl and suffered a respiratory arrest which led to a metabolic acidosis which ultimately caused his de- mise. Defendant countered that the amount of Fentanyl given could not have caused his arrest and that, from an eco- nomic standpoint, since he was in the
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Trial Reporter 45
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