Weitz & Luxenberg Secures Multimillion-Dollar Medical Malpractice Settlement in Case Involving Woman, 31, Dead of Tonsillectomy Complication

NEW YORK, NY, April 30, 2013 (Press-News.org) Weitz & Luxenberg has obtained a multimillion-dollar medical-malpractice settlement from a physician specialist in a case involving a 31-year-old New York tonsillectomy patient who died of complications nearly two weeks following the procedure.

The single mother of one was at home watching television when blood suddenly began gushing from her mouth 13 days after undergoing surgery to remove her tonsils. She was rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital where she succumbed a short time later, said Allan Zelikovic, Esq., counsel for the deceased woman's family and head of Weitz & Luxenberg's Medical Malpractice unit.

Weitz & Luxenberg produced compelling evidence showing that the hemorrhage was a direct result of the tonsillectomy doctor's failure to properly treat her with needed antibiotics and intravenous fluids despite the fact that fever and an inability to swallow liquids due to severe throat pain had combined to render her dangerously dehydrated.

According to testimony offered by a board-certified otolaryngologist on behalf of the plaintiff, the incision site of a removed tonsil can reopen on its own if the patient is severely dehydrated. The risk of such an occurrence peaks 13 days after surgery, he stated.

Said Mr. Zelikovic, "Since this risk is well-known to doctors, they are expected to carefully monitor the hydration of adult tonsillectomy patients and take appropriate measures in response if dehydration develops. However, as the evidence revealed, both the monitoring and the fluids administration were halted approximately one week too soon.

"This tragedy could have been entirely avoided but for the decision to stop antibiotics and IV hydration at precisely the point they were most crucially necessary to minimize the risk of this devastating complication. Her doctor missed a golden opportunity to address and correct the problem. The woman lost her life as a result."

Recognizing he was unlikely to convince a jury to side with him, the defendant doctor agreed at the last minute to settle the case out of court for a substantial sum worth multiple millions of dollars, Mr. Zelikovic said.

He added that the prime beneficiary of the settlement will be the woman's young son, whose financial needs - including full tuition to college - should be completely met into adulthood.

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