In a significant victory for their client, SBH Partners, a leading California-based law firm, secured a defense verdict in a challenging medical malpractice case tried in Cook County. Partners Mark Smith and Greta Powell (Hafeman), along with associate Jack Moore, represented a vascular surgeon facing allegations of negligence in the death of a 58-year-old patient.
The case revolved around a patient with severe atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease who underwent multiple interventions by the defendant vascular surgeon to address blockages in her legs. Despite these efforts, the patient required a left leg amputation. During rehabilitation, new wounds developed on her right leg due to arterial blockages and reduced blood flow. The vascular surgeon then performed a femoral-tibial bypass surgery to restore circulation and save the remaining leg.
Throughout the bypass procedure, the patient experienced low hemoglobin and blood pressure. A subsequent chest x-ray revealed a hemothorax, necessitating the insertion of a chest tube. While initially showing some improvement, the patient later deteriorated, becoming hypoxic and ultimately suffering cardiac arrest and death. Post-mortem examination revealed that a central line, placed by the anesthesiologist during surgery, had punctured the right innominate vein, leading to fatal internal bleeding.
The plaintiff argued that the vascular surgeon should have halted the bypass surgery to investigate the cause of the patient’s concerningly low hemoglobin and blood pressure. Conversely, the defense team from SBH Partners argued persuasively that the patient’s death was a tragic consequence of a known complication associated with central line placement, compounded by her pre-existing and severe underlying medical conditions which significantly limited her resilience to surgical insults. They further emphasized that stopping the surgery mid-procedure would have had devastating consequences, including the disposal of already harvested vessels and the inevitable amputation of the patient’s remaining leg, thereby offering no benefit and only further harm.
SBH Partners meticulously demonstrated that the patient’s mean arterial pressure (MAP) remained reassuring throughout the procedure. They also highlighted that the patient’s hemoglobin levels improved to preoperative levels following blood product administration and that other implemented interventions were effectively improving her condition, obviating the need to prematurely terminate the critical bypass surgery.
The plaintiff in the case sought damages exceeding $4.5 million. However, after four hours of deliberation, the jury in the Cook County Circuit Court, presided over by The Honorable Brendan A. O’Brien, delivered a verdict in favor of the defendant physician. This successful defense verdict underscores SBH Partners California’s commitment to providing exceptional legal representation and their deep expertise in navigating complex medical malpractice litigation for healthcare providers.
