SAFETYRULEFORDOCTORS

• Adoctormustpaycarefulattentionduringanoperation

• Ifadoctordoesnotpaycarefulattention duringanoperation,thedoctorisresponsiblefortheinjuriescaused

WHYAREWEHERE?

• ToholdDr.OwenHillresponsibleforthesufferinganddeathandforadaughter’slossofhermother

THISOPERATION

BREACHOFTHESTANDARDOFCARE

• Whatwentwrong?–Dr.Hillfailedtopaycarefulattentionwhenthepacingwireswereputinchest– Thewireswereplacedimproperly–Whenthewireswerepulled,hergraftwascutandshedied

“Therewasalonglacerationintherightcoronaryarterygraftcausedprobablybythepacingwire.Thelacerationwasbleedingprofusely…”

WHOWASINVOLVEDINTHESURGERY?

• Dr.– Surgeon• Mr.– SurgicalTech• Mr.– SurgicalTech

WHOPLACEDTHEWIRESINCHEST?

• Dr.? à

• Mr.? à

• Mr.? à

Doesnotknow

WHOPLACEDTHEWIRESINCHEST?

• Dr.? à

• Mr.? à

• Mr.? à

Doesnotknow

Doesnotknow

WHOPLACEDTHEWIRESINCHEST?

• Dr.? à

• Mr.? à

• Mr.? à

Doesnotknow

Doesnotknow

“Idonotrecall.”

HOWMANYWIRESWEREPLACED?

• Dr.? à

• Mr.?à

• Mr.? à

Doesnotknow

Doesnotknow

Doesnotknow

PULLINGOFPACINGWIRESFEBRUARY6,2011

Whenwiresareproperlyplaced,removalissimple• Routine• DonebyRN• Bed-side,noOR• Nodoctor’sorders• Nodoctorneeded• Notalifethreateningprocedure• Neverexpectedthistohappen• 1,000timesbefore;noinjury

WHATHAPPENEDWHENTHEWIRESWEREPULLED?

EXPERT

• Shedied,becausethewireswereimproperlyplaced

• Ifthewireswereproperlyplaced,shelives

DEFENSEWITNESS

• Assumes– wiresproperlyplaced– Admitsnoknowledgeofwireplacementtosupporthistheory

• Assumes– heartchangessize– Admitsnoevidenceinthecharttosupporthistheory

• Assumes– graftandwireswerenottouching– Admitsnoevidenceinthecharttosupporthistheory

VERDICTSHEETWhatamountofdamagesdoyoufindforTheEstate?

a.FuneralExpenses: $____________________

b.Non-EconomicDamages:$____________________

Whatamountofdamagesdoyoufindfordaughter?

a.Non-EconomicDamages: $____________________