Our client was a 73 male from Lower Burrell who was in excellent health. Under the care of a urologist for evaluation of a urinary problem, he was scheduled for a cystoscopy examination (the insertion of a small scope under local anesthesia to allow visualization of the bladder) at a hospital in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. In the course of this minor, outpatient procedure, the urologist punctured our client's rectum. Instead of being discharged home that day, he was required to undergo emergency and major abdominal and rectal surgery to repair his rectum, the insertion of a colostomy and wash out of any potential contamination of the abdominal cavity. While recovering from this surgery, our client developed a bowel obstruction. Despite the presence of multiple signs and symptoms of an obstruction, no medical intervention occurred. Eventually, our client aspirated, the swallowing of one's vomit into the lungs, and had to be transferred to the intensive care unit. This led to our client developing pneumonia, sepsis, multi-organ system failure and eventually his death.
We brought a wrongful death civil action in Allegheny County on behalf of his surviving wife and children. A settlement was reached with the insurance company of the hospital and the physicians involved.
