Hospital settings often become the temporary home for many patients who have serious conditions and illnesses. Due to the fragile physical condition of patients, it’s imperative that hospitals take measures to ensure rooms and equipment are clean and sterile. It’s also crucial that hospitals take the time to routinely inspect building components that could potentially pose a health or safety risk to patients.
A medical malpractice lawsuit was recently filed by a husband and wife after they learned of an unknown substance in an operating room and its negative impact on their lives. A diabetic, the 45-year-old man required a kidney transplant, a vital organ which his wife willingly provided. Upon harvesting and preparing the healthy kidney, however, something went very wrong.
According to the surgeon’s notes, an unknown substance dripped onto the kidney from a light in the operating room while it was being prepared for transplant. As a result, members of the surgical staff were forced to take measures to clean and sterilize the kidney, which resulted in a major delay in the transplant surgery.
By the time the 45-year-old man received his wife’s kidney, several hours had passed. As a result, the organ had sustained damage and was barely functioning. The man was subsequently forced to be put on kidney dialysis and is again in need of a new kidney.
In the wake of the botched transplant, members of the surgical staff relayed what had happened to the couple. The hospital, however, denied the existence of the unknown substance in the operating room as well as any wrongdoing.
The couple recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital and is seeking to at the very least recover compensation related to medical expenses. Illinois residents who have been adversely impacted due to a hospital’s negligent acts may choose to take legal action. This includes cases where a hospital’s premise is deemed unsafe or hazardous thereby putting patients at risk for injury.
Source: Long Island Newsday, “Couple’s lawsuit says hospital error ruined kidney,” Delthia Ricks, Nov. 23, 2013
