Keys v. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
May 02, 2013OUTCOME: Jury verdict of $1,375,000.00
67 Year old woman who underwent partial thyroidectomy presented one hour post op with difficulty breathing. The cause of the difficulty breathing was a developing hematoma that was cutting off the air ... way, the number one post operative complication from this procedure. An ICU nurse and respiratory therapist were called but failed to understand the medical emergency. They did not secure the airway or get a hospital intensivist involved in the care to determine the cause of the breathing difficulties. They took vital signs and left the room. The patient was left alone for almost 30 minutes with her sister and daughter while gasping for air. When her surgeon arrived, she immediately coded and suffered an anoxic brain injury. She died 2 weeks later.