San Francisco Lawyer Discusses Recent Medical Malpractice Cases
Tragic Medical Malpractice Case Details Emerge
A woman who entered a Torrance hospital for a routine surgical operation witnessed one of a patient’s worst nightmares: a procedure gone horribly wrong and massively injuries as a result. In a lawsuit, the woman claims that malpractice allowed a post-hysterectomy infection to sweep through her body and result in the amputation of both her arms and legs, (source).
In the summer of 2012, Annette Ramirez elected to undergo surgery to address a benign mass on her uterus. On Aug. 1, Ramirez entered the Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center for a routine laparoscopic hysterectomy. The procedure involved inserting a camera and several instruments through small incisions in the patient’s skin. According to the patient’s complaint, the doctors who performed the procedure, James Scharffenberger and Lisa Fisher, poked a hole in her colon during the operation. Allegedly, the doctors did not notice the hole and reported the surgery as “without complication.”
Symptoms Went Undiagnosed
Over the next two days, Ramirez allegedly showed telltale signs of infection, including low blood pressure, elevated heart rate and low urine output. While the patient’s nurses noticed these problems and expressed concern, Scharffenberger allegedly ignored the signs and the nurses, instead prescribing extra pain medicine and an enema. The enema exacerbated the problem, as it increased the volume of bowel waste leaking the hole in Ramirez’s colon. Ultimately, this allegedly led to peritonitis. Two days thereafter, doctors discovered the perforated bowel and returned Ramirez to surgery to close the perforated bowel.
Patient Takes a Tragic Turn
Unfortunately, the damage was already done as gangrene had set in. Her skin began turning black and doctors amputated part of her arms and legs, including both legs above the ankle, her right arm above her elbow, and her left arm above the wrist. Ramirez has sued the hospital, Scharffenberger, Foster, and six other doctors, seeking damages for negligence, loss of consortium and home services. “She knows she’s lost her arms and legs. She knows she’s never going to be able to take care of her young children,” Ramirez’s attorney, Bruce Fagel told the Daily News. “She’s never going to be able to go back to work.” Ramirez works for the USC Alumni Association and is the mother of two children, ages 6 and 13.
Fagel told the Daily News that the crux of the complaint was the failure to identify, and treat, the obvious signs of infection in a timely manner. “Basically, what occurred here is a complication of this particular kind of surgery, which if they had recognized it and treated it right away would have been nothing. It would have been no big deal. It would have been treatable and dealt with,” the attorney said.
According to the California Medical Board’s website, Scharffenberger had a record devoid of disciplinary actions or malpractice settlements.
Any medical procedure, even a seemingly routine one, is a serious health matter, requiring the utmost in attention from doctors, not only during the operation, but in post-operative care, as well. When they do not, serious consequences can result. Recently, the family of 54-year-old North Carolina woman received a $7 million judgment after doctors perforated her colon during a routine hysterectomy. The resulting septic shock and organ failure ultimately killed the woman.
Call for a Free Medical Malpractice Case Review
Our San Francisco medical malpractice lawyers are here to help when doctors do not live up to the required standard of care. Our medical malpractice attorneys in San Francisco are knowledgeable and experienced at helping injured patients assert their legal rights fully. Call us now at 415-541-0300 to request your free medical malpractice case review.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
