Professional Negligence Law Reporter
Medicine
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Failure to Evacuate Stomach Contents Before Lap Band Surgery
May/June 2019After undergoing gastric bypass surgery, Vincent Minor, 28, developed an obstruction that caused his stomach contents to back up above his lap band. During surgery to remove the lap band, he began vomiting and aspirated vomit. He later developed pneumonitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome and remained in a vegetative state until his death a month later. He is survived by his parents and two siblings.
Minor’s estate sued Joyce Hairston, the treating anesthesiologist, alleging she had failed to place a nasogastric tube and evacuate Minor’s stomach contents before intubating him. Suit did not claim lost income.
The jury awarded more than $3.4 million.
Citation: Bronley v. Hairston, No. CL-2017-2217 (Va. Cir. Ct. Fairfax Cnty. Jan. 23, 2019).
Plaintiff counsel: AAJ members William J. Atkins and Roderick E. Edmond, both of Atlanta; and Brian Glass, Fairfax, Va.
