Surgical Errors
These cases often involve surgeries that are improperly performed by surgeons, or surgeons who have not taken the necessary precautions to avoid serious injury to the patient.
Burn Victim Calls Attention To Dangers Of Surgical Fires
Cleveland, Ohio - June 4, 2010 -- Spangenberg Shibley & Liber client, Lauren Wargo speaks with the Plain Dealer about operating room fires. Ms. Wargo discusses her accident and her
beliefs about the lack of reporting and accountability surrounding operating room fires.
Operating Room Fire Victim Awarded $1.3 Million in Medical Malpractice Case
A Cuyahoga County, Ohio jury has returned a favorable verdict after finding a plastic surgeon responsible for causing a fire in an operating room.
This malpractice case was against plastic surgeon Dr. Bryan Michelow and his corporation Contemporary Cosmetics, Inc in favor of his patient Lauren Wargo in the amount of $872,000 as a result of second degree burns she suffered on her face and neck caused by a fire in an operating room at the Zeeba Surgery Center on December 18, 2006.
Lauren, age 20, was having a mole removed from her right eyebrow and was sedated and receiving oxygen supplementation via a face mask when Dr. Michelow activated an electocautery "device known as a bovie which caused a fire to erupt in the operating room". Ms. Wargo alleged that Dr. Michelow was negligent in failing to communicate to the anesthesia assistant who was controlling the oxygen that he was going to use the bovie so that the anesthesia assistant would know to turn off the oxygen. During the trial, Dr. Michelow blamed this anesthesia assistant for not knowing that he was going to use the bovie. The jury exonerated the anesthesia assistant and found Dr. Michelow 100% responsible for the fire.
The jury also found that Dr. Michelow concealed from Lauren and her parents the true cause of the fire and as a result awarded Lauren an additional $425,000 in punitive damages against the doctor.
Cleveland trial lawyer, Peter H. Weinberger with the Ohio law firm of Spangenberg, Shibley & Liber LLP represented the victim of this medical malpractice lawsuit.
Hysterectomy Surgery Complications Results in Bladder Injury
Cleveland, Ohio - November 20, 2009 -- Surgical error lawyer Rhonda Baker Debevec, successfully pursued a medical malpractice claim arising from damage done to her client’s bladder during an open hysterectomy surgery. The patient was a fifty-four year old woman who suffered from painful and prolonged periods (sometimes called menorrhagia.) When medications failed to control the patient’s symptoms, her gynecologist recommended hysterectomy surgery resulting in a bladder injury. More on Hysterectomy Surgery Complications...
Surgeon Mishandles Surgical Drill and Cut Several Nerves
In one recent case, SS&L trial lawyers represented a retired steelworker, who was seriously injured when his surgeon mishandled a surgical drill and cut several nerves. As a result, the client lost his ability to control his bowel and bladder, and lost feeling in one of his feet. The case was settled during trial for a substantial confidential amount.
In another case, we represented a client who had spinal surgery to resolve his back pain. While cutting away a part of a bone, the surgeon accidentally cut several nerves in the spine, causing permanent injury. The case was tried before a jury and resulted in a verdict of $1,200,000.
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