On December 12, 2011, shareholder Stephen Sigler successfully defended a Cardiologist in a case of alleged malpractice in diagnosis and treatment.
The plaintiff alleged malpractice following a successful replacement of an existing depleted Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) and a fractured defibrillator led to the right ventricle. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged the defendant doctor failed to properly diagnose/assess the pre-existing diagnosis and alleged the surgical procedure was improperly performed leading to subsequent complications. Over the next two years, plaintiff alleged he suffered further complications and electrical shocks from movement of the device leading to an additional lead replacement surgery. The defense maintained the defendant appropriately replaced the lead and ICD based upon records and diagnostic materials available at the time of the initial treatment and presented evidence the subsequent complications related to events outside the care of the defendant, twiddler's syndrome.
The jury took approximately ninety minutes of deliberation before returning a unanimous verdict on behalf of the defendant doctor.
Stephen T. Sigler is a shareholder at Neil Dymott Hudson and concentrates his practice on the defense of healthcare professionals and general civil litigation. Mr. Sigler may be reached at (619) 238-1712.
