Sutherland Family Receives $250,000 Following Untimely Death of Mother Following Mismanagement of Heart Condition
- 4 March 2021
- Keegan Behrens
Case Overview
- This matter concerns the untimely death of a lady who attended a hospital with a recent history of angina, in 2018.
- Arrangements were made for her to undergo Coronary Bypass surgery, which was performed incorrectly.
- Her health deteriorated following the procedure, which led to her death several days later.
This matter concerns the untimely death of a lady who attended a hospital with a recent history of angina, in 2018. Upon admission, a coronary angiogram was performed which showed significant triple vessel disease, a significant disease with 80% obstruction of the left anterior descending artery, 70% stenoses in the marginal circumflex branches, and 95% proximal stenosis in the right coronary artery and reduced contractility of the inferior wall in the distribution of the artery. Also, all vessels were described as of large calibre.
Following the scan, this lady was transferred to the Defendant Hospital that very evening. The Hospital was aware of this lady’s co-morbidities, including polymyalgia which was being treated with cortisone, hypertension, questionable mild renal impairment, and some non-obstructive carotid artery plaque. Arrangements were made for her to undergo Coronary Bypass surgery. This was, unfortunately, performed incorrectly. Her health deteriorated following the procedure which was also inadequately monitored and treated, and passed away several days later from multiple organ failures.
The lady’s husband and daughters were extremely distraught by what had occurred, and they consulted Gerard Malouf & Partners seeking assistance and closure for the terrible incident that had befallen their dear wife and mother.
Our Approach
This matter was managed by Mr. Keegan Behrens, an expert medical negligence solicitor at the firm. Mr. Behrens sought an expert opinion from an eminent and experienced cardiologist, who opined that the strategy employed by the operating surgeon, as well as the post-operative management was inappropriate. Had the correct procedures been followed, the deceased likely would have survived. The family was also assessed by a psychiatrist, who provided detailed individual reports outlining how the incident had impacted their psychiatric health and provided recommendations for their future care and therapy.
The matters proceeded to mediation, where Mr. Behrens and an expert barrister negotiated a claim for medical negligence.
The Result
Despite a difficult and technical medical negligence case a sum of $250,000 was negotiated for the family.
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