Sommers Schwartz attorney Kenneth Watkins negotiated a $1.25 million settlement for the family of a man who died during surgery due to improper administration of general anesthesia.

The patient was a 60-year-old diabetic with hypertension, dehydration, and a lingering toe infection that had not responded to antibiotic treatment. After receiving acute care in the ER, the patient was admitted and scheduled for surgery the following day to remove his gangrenous left big toe.

An EKG and chest X-rays taken the following day showed evidence of a potential heart problem, which should have raised a red flag. Unfortunately, no follow-up testing was performed, and the patient was never medically cleared for surgery. Nevertheless, the operation began as planned. Almost immediately after receiving anesthesia, his heart stopped. Despite the surgical team’s best efforts to revive him, the patient died.

The patient had a history of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension, and his pre-operative tests indicated cardiac issues. It was negligent to administer general anesthesia without obtaining a full medical clearance or considering safer alternatives. The lawsuit alleged his death resulted from the negligence and medical malpractice of the anesthesia team and other hospital personnel.