Mid-Six Figure Settlement in Medical Malpractice Case

This case involved a transected vena cava which lead to death.
The patient was presented to the emergency department due to dehydration. Since the patient required fluids, an IV was attempted. However, likely due to the dehydration, an IV could not be successfully started. Accordingly, the emergency room physician decided to place a central line to administer fluids into the patient’s right subclavian artery.
Unfortunately, while placing the central line, the emergency room physician was negligent. Specifically, while attempting to guide the central line through the subclavian and down into the superior vena cava, he negligently punctured through and into the patient’s ascending aorta within her pericardial sac. This, in turn, caused the patient to die almost instantly due to a hemopericardium. As a result, the medical malpractice lawyers at Tittle & Perlmuter were able to negotiate a mid six-figure settlement with the emergency room physician and hospital.