On April 25, 2023, a Connecticut medical malpractice jury returned its verdict in the amount of $8.5 million for the surviving wife and the estate of a man who died after total knee replacement surgery at a private surgical practice. The jury determined that the defendant, Orthopaedic Sports Specialists, failed to detect that the man had developed a blood clot that led to his death.
The Connecticut jury trial lasted two weeks after which the jury awarded $5.5 million to the man’s estate and $3 million to his wife.
The Connecticut medical malpractice lawsuit alleged that the man had knee replacement surgery in August 2015 that was performed by Michael Joyce, M.D. of Orthopaedic Sports Specialists. The man developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his leg shortly after the surgery. The plaintiffs alleged that the man contacted Orthopaedic Sports Specialists repeatedly during the two weeks following the surgery, complaining that he had increasing pain and swelling in his calf, which are signs of a DVT.
The plaintiffs alleged that despite the man’s concerns and complaints, Orthopaedic Sports Specialists failed to order an ultrasound that would have found the blood clot in time to be treated, and that with timely diagnosis and treatment, the man’s life would have been saved. Two days after the man’s last visit with Orthopaedic Sports Specialists, the man died after the blood clot traveled to his lungs.
The plaintiffs’ Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer stated after the verdict: “Peter Sobin’s death was completely avoidable, and I am pleased that the jury held Orthopaedic Sports Specialists responsible for its negligence. Families deserve justice when medical professionals abandon their duty to their patients and cause injuries or even deaths that should be preventable.”
The defense attorney stated after the verdict: “We have concerns in several respects about the trial that we will be raising on appeal and are looking forward to a fair Appellate review of the case.”
Joint replacement patients are at highest risk for developing a DVT two to ten days after surgery, and remain at risk for approximately three months. Between 2001 and 2011, a total of 1.1 million patients underwent total knee replacement (TKR). The overall incidence of DVT decreased for TKR from 0.86% in 2001 to 0.45% in 2011. Patients who developed a DVT after TKR were older (67.7 vs. 66.8); more likely to be African American; and, more likely to have significant comorbidities including congestive heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and end-stage renal disease. Mortality was significantly greater for patients who developed a DVT (0.4% for TKR).
If you or a loved one have suffered serious harm or death as a result of medical negligence in Connecticut or in another U.S. state, you should promptly find a Connecticut medical malpractice attorney, or a medical malpractice attorney in your state, who may investigate your medical malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a medical malpractice case, if appropriate.
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