A jury cleared two anesthesiologists on Wednesday in the case of a patient who died after surgery to repair a broken bone, according to a Gazette Net report.
Stella J. Kieras died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., on Oct. 6, 2005. Her three children filed a medical malpractice suit in Hampshire Superior Court in 2008. The family's lawyers told jurors that anesthesiologist Kamel Ghandour, MD, gave Ms. Kieras an overly large dose of medication meant to lower her blood pressure during surgery.
The family filed suit against Dr. Ghandour and Suzette E. Damboise, MD. The anesthesiologists' defense attorney said in his closing argument that neither Dr. Ghandour nor Dr. Damboise did anything wrong, and that Ms. Kieras' death resulted from surgical complications. He added that the cause of Ms. Kieras' death was not too much blood pressure medication, but rather a heart rhythm disorder brought on by emboli in her bloodstream.
The jury reached its verdict in favor of the physicians after less than an hour of deliberation.
Related Articles on Anesthesia:
Researchers Unsure Whether Lidocaine Can Shorten Duration of Spinal Anesthesia
6 Ways to Ensure Clinical Quality While Switching Anesthesia Providers
Fear of Blame by Colleagues May Stop Anesthesiologists From Reporting Adverse Events
Stella J. Kieras died at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., on Oct. 6, 2005. Her three children filed a medical malpractice suit in Hampshire Superior Court in 2008. The family's lawyers told jurors that anesthesiologist Kamel Ghandour, MD, gave Ms. Kieras an overly large dose of medication meant to lower her blood pressure during surgery.
The family filed suit against Dr. Ghandour and Suzette E. Damboise, MD. The anesthesiologists' defense attorney said in his closing argument that neither Dr. Ghandour nor Dr. Damboise did anything wrong, and that Ms. Kieras' death resulted from surgical complications. He added that the cause of Ms. Kieras' death was not too much blood pressure medication, but rather a heart rhythm disorder brought on by emboli in her bloodstream.
The jury reached its verdict in favor of the physicians after less than an hour of deliberation.
Related Articles on Anesthesia:
Researchers Unsure Whether Lidocaine Can Shorten Duration of Spinal Anesthesia
6 Ways to Ensure Clinical Quality While Switching Anesthesia Providers
Fear of Blame by Colleagues May Stop Anesthesiologists From Reporting Adverse Events