Medical Malpractice

Our client suffered from a disorder known as Zenker’s diverticulum which is an outpouching of the lower throat and upper esophagus that required her to undergo continual dilations of her esophagus so she could swallow food. In an effort to eliminate the need for dilations, she decided to undergo surgery that promised to fix her problems and allow her to live more normally.  After the surgery was complete and she was placed in recovery, the client began to choke and could not swallow. The cardiothoracic surgeon emergently consulted an ear, nose, and throat surgeon who determined that the client’s esophagus had been transected, and it was not discovered or repaired during surgery. The ENT surgeon was able to repair the client’s esophagus, and his professional criticism of the cardiothoracic surgeon helped resolve the claim in litigation. We often see physicians protecting other physicians who make errors, and it was refreshing to encounter a physician with impeccable integrity who did the right thing for the right reason and helped his patient obtain fair compensation for her permanent injuries.