Dr. Thomas Laney of Seattle is being accused by the State Medical Agency of surgical malpractice for an alleged botched breast augmentation as well as liposuction on a teenage girl.  He is also being accused of unprofessional conduct because of the patient’s age.

The unnamed patient was just 15 years old at the time of the procedures, and sought treatment from the surgeon to reduce the large size of her breasts, which she claimed interfered with her athletic activities and caused her pain.  She also requested liposuction for weight loss purposes.

According to the lawsuit filed by the girl’s family, which has since been settled, the doctor didn’t perform the breast reduction properly, putting her nipples back in the wrong place and leaving her breasts with an “unnatural appearance”.

The Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission is now getting involved, citing that the doctor did not have the proper education or training to perform the surgeries in question, and that he acted negligently by agreeing to perform liposuction on such a young patient.

Although there are no reports that the girl suffered any injury from the liposuction, it is a highly risky procedure which could have resulted in infection, tissue loss and even death.  Because of this, the Agency claims that Dr. Laney should have refused to perform the surgery and instead recommended a proper diet and exercise for weight loss.

This isn’t Laney’s first experience with medical malpractice accusations.  In fact, he has been sued at least 10 other times by patients or their families.  One such incident involved the death of a plastic surgery patient who ceased breathing while under anesthesia.

Amazingly, although he has been fined in the past, the medical board has yet to place any restrictions on Laney’s medical license, even given his track record.

He has requested a hearing in this particular case but no date has been scheduled yet.  In the meantime, he continues to practice medicine.

The widower of an Indiana woman who died from complications after a surgical pad was left inside her body was awarded a verdict of $2.2 million for her wrongful death.

The unnamed patient had a history of a fatty liver and was in need of a liver transplant at the time she underwent heart bypass surgery and a valve replacement.  Although the surgery was successful, a surgical pad was accidently left inside the patient when she was closed up.  It took nearly a month to discover the foreign object, at which point the pad had become adhered to her heart.
The patient then underwent further surgery to remove the pad which caused multiple perforations to her heart.  She suffered a slow death over the course of five long weeks, due to multiple organ failure.

Much debate in the surgical malpractice case surrounded the patient’s already failing health at the time of the surgical error.  She was only 68 years old, however her life expectancy was significantly decreased due to her liver disease, heart disease and other conditions from which she suffered.

In the end, the jury in the trial placed a value of $2.2 million on the woman’s wrongful death.  This amount will be reduced to $1.25 million, the state damages cap in Indiana.

The family of a Wisconsin girl who was left permanently disabled after a botched spleen-removal has received a settlement in their surgical malpractice case against Dr. Leonard Go.

According to court documents, during the surgery, which was performed in June 2007 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Dr. Go used a blender-like device to assist in removing the child’s spleen.

The surgeon admitted to failing to notify the girl’s parents that he was using the device, which he also admitted he had never used before.

The device ended up causing massive internal damage, leaving little Shelbey Bomkamp, now 8 years old, with permanent brain injuries.  She cannot speak, can only eat through a feeding tube and requires round-the-clock care.

According to the Bomkamp’s medical attorney, the award of over $17 million is the largest in Dane County history.

Source: www.NewRichmond-News.com

A surgical malpractice lawsuit has been filed against the doctor who performed brain surgery on a 16 year old Russian boy in 2006 that resulted in the boy’s death.  The family claims that the surgeon, who performed the risky procedure free of charge did so for his own publicity, disregarding the safety of his patient.

Dr. Paul Francel of Oklahoma City offered to operate on young David Kurbanov after Russian physicians discovered a tumor on the boy’s brain stem.  The tumor was allegedly causing Kurbanov to have difficulty with balance, appetite and swallowing.

The family alleges that due to the doctor Francel’s desire to receive media coverage and self promotion, he acted below the medical standard of care, and that through his medical negligence the boy slipped into a coma following the surgery and was declared brain dead shortly thereafter.  Less than a year later, he died at the tender age of 16.

As tragic as this story is, perhaps even more alarming is the fact that this isn’t the first claim of medical malpractice that has been brought against Dr. Francel.  In fact, there are currently 12 cases pending, since June 2007.  Not surprisingly, he has agreed to discontinue practicing medicine while the investigations into his past are conducted.

Surgical malpractice is possibly one of the most devastating types of medical negligence, because of the delicate and risky nature of the practice.  This story is just one of many that occur every day in this country, leaving behind shattered lives and broken families.  If you or someone you love has been a victim of any type of surgical error, you should speak with an experienced medical attorney right away.