Legal Question in Medical Malpractice in Pennsylvania
Knee replacement
My husband had a knee replacement done Jan. 15, 2008 the surgey went well he was in pain and medications were changed. Some time during the night his blood pressure droped and he was not breathing when the notice him the put in a breathing tube and took him to the ICU. I was called and I went to hospital. He was a mess tubes all over the place when I ask what happened they didn't know. They think he chocked or had a overdose of medication. His kidneys stoped working and his liver too. At this time I heard their was a tainted medication that was given to patients it is called heprin that they give to thin the blood after knee replacement. My husband spent 9days in ICU then was put in a room with a sitter. He was then placed in a Nursing home He needed to learn how to walk, dress himself, feed himself, every thing to take care of ones self. He spent 6months in different Rehab. places. He still has a problem thinking can't remember anything in the short term. The hospital sent me a letter saying they were sorry for the outcome of the surgery. Can i sue the hospital or the if it was the heperin.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Knee replacement
The circumstances you describe certainly raise a ligitimate reason for a lawyer with experience in medical malpractice cases to investigate the rercords of your husband's care. The reason for the drop in your husbands blood pressure and when such a drop was discovered are key facts to be determined. You say that "they"" think he choked or had an overdose. Who said this? These are two very different reasons for his deterioration. It should not be difficult to determine whether tainted heparin was a factor but I believe that there are other explanations which are more likely the case. If an investigation provides a factual basis for pursuling a claim then you certainly can sue the hospital and those persons responsible for needless delay in responding to your husband's needs. A person on heparin following knee surgery has to be careffully monitored. If he was receiving narcotic medication then a drop in blood pressure was a complication to be avoided. Was his pain medication given by nurses or did your husband have a pump attached to him which permitted him to admilnister to himself small quantitiees of pain medication? This is called patient controlled analgesia.
I would be happy to answer any further questions you may have. My firm has consideerable experience in investigating and handling such cases.
Re: Knee replacement
This sounds like a terrible experience. I have heard of these Heperin cases, and it is very significant that the hospital sent you an apology letter. I have personally handled cases such as these and would be interested in talking with you or meeting with you and your family. Feel free to give me a call on my direct line: 267.639.3105.
-Daniel Cevallos, Esquire
Re: Knee replacement
Please accept my sympathies for what you are going through.
The problem with �tainted� heparin has been tentatively ascribed to a man-made chemical called oversulfated condroitin sulfate. The reported adverse reactions have included difficulty breathing, nausea or vomiting, excessive sweating and falling blood pressure, which can lead to life-threatening shock.
As the suspect lots of were recalled Feb. 28, 2008, your husband may have been exposed.
This is, however, only one of many problems which could explain you husband�s event.
The incident you describe deserves review by a medical malpractice attorney to see if there may have been hospital negligence and/or a problem with tainted heparin.
You should contact a medical malpractice attorney AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you are considering legal action in this matter.
As doctor/lawyer, I would be happy to review records on an expedited basis and give you my thoughts as to whether I can identify any problems with your husband�s care and, if so, is this case I would pursue.
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