Malpractice Lawsuit Over Blood Clots After Surgery Results in $1.4M Award

Published: February 6th, 2012

The family of a New York man and longtime public servant has been awarded $1.4 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed over medical malpractice following a hip surgery. 

The complaint was filed by the family of T. Patrick “Pat” Meehan, who served 19 terms as supervisor in the Town of Windham.

Meehan died in November 2009 after hip surgery at Albany Medical Center due to post-surgical blood clots, which led to a fatal pulmonary embolism. The family filed the the medical malpractice lawsuit against hospital for failure to diagnose.

Following a two-week trial in the New York State Supreme Court of Greene County, a jury found in favor of the family last month. During the trial, plaintiff attorneys argued that the blood clots caused Meehan’s death, which could have been prevented by the hospital staff.

According to the plaintiffs, Meehan had hip replacement surgery on November 11, 2009, and stayed for physical therapy. While still at the hospital on November 13 and 14, he began to suffer shortness of breath and an elevated heart and respiratory rate. Plaintiffs claim these were clear signs of a possible pulmonary embolism due to post-surgical blood clots. He died the next day after two blood clots entered his lungs.

The lawsuit alleged that Dr. Aniko Felligi, the staff physician, should have recognized the warning signs of a pulmonary embolism and had Meehan tested. The failure to do so was a breach of recognized standards of medical care, the family argued.

Meehan’s death allegedly could have been avoided if he’d been given the blood thinner heparin, according to the complaint.