Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in New Jersey

Aorta Ruptured due to Epidural?

I was a healthy 36 year old female, was pregnant with first child, healthy throughout pregnancy, had an emergency C-section, epidural given many times to me because the doctor claimed the spacing in my back was off, then he put the catheter in the wrong vein or artery and my blood pressure fell.They had to give me some kind of medicine to bring my pressure up, and he claimed that sometimes the catheter goes in the wrong area, I had the baby, four days, later, my aorta ruptured,

I now have Type B aortic dissection, I am on blood pressure medicines to keep my pressure down so i do not rupture my aorta and die. My question is I think the epidural caused this, but how can I prove it, will the doctors have it documented how many times they tried to insert the catheter in my back or will they not log that info, The hospital is a teaching hospital and there were three students present watching the whole thing along with four nurses holding me up in the front along with my husband, they should remember me, it was pretty unforgettable.

do i have a case?

Thanks


Asked on 6/07/05, 11:57 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Scott Diamond DIAMONDLAWYER

Re: Aorta Ruptured due to Epidural?

you very well may have a case. Attorneys such as myself review the records to make the determination as to whetehr the doctor comitted malpr. We then send your records to an expert for review and an opinion as to the malpr. That is how you know what took place during the epidural.

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Answered on 6/08/05, 8:24 am
Adam L. Rothenberg Levinson Axelrod, P.C.

Re: Aorta Ruptured due to Epidural?

Thanks for the inquiry. We did a little reasearch on the condition and it does not appear to be likely caused by an epidural. However, we have neither consulted with nor retained an expert, so a medical doctor or specialist may differ.

You have 2 years from the accident to puruse a claim and may wish to retain an attorney. However, if the this is a State affiliated hospital, a Tort Claims Notice must be filed within 90 days or the claim amy be barred. As a teaching facility, it is likely thta a notice must be filed.

I am not concluding whether there is malpractice or not, or whether your problems are caused by the epidural. This would require an indepth examination of the records and retention of an expert. If you are interested in pursuing the case, you should do this ASAP.

However, based upn my preliminary review of the medicine, we would not undertake the case.

I hope that you have as good a recovery as possible. Best wishes.

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Answered on 6/09/05, 1:42 pm


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