GE Healthcare Lawsuit Claims Surgical Table Collapse Caused Serious Internal Injuries

Lawsuit alleges patient suffered bowel perforation, infection and permanent injuries after the operating table collapsed during surgery.

A Texas man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging a GE Healthcare surgical table collapsed, causing him to fall during surgery and suffer life-threatening internal injuries that required additional emergency operations.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Alejandro Moncivais Arriaga in Texas District Court on June 22, naming GE Healthcare Inc. and service technician Jesus Cepeda as defendants.

Arriaga claims the GE Healthcare surgical table collapsed while he was under anesthesia during surgery at a Texas hospital, resulting in him suffering bowel perforation, internal trauma, infection and peritonitis that required additional emergency treatment. 

Surgical Table Risks

Surgical tables are specialized operating room platforms designed to support patients during medical procedures while allowing surgeons to position the body for different types of operations. Most are equipped with adjustable sections that can raise, lower, tilt or rotate to improve surgical access.

They are designed to safely support patients who are often unconscious, immobilized and unable to protect themselves under anesthesia. Since patients rely entirely on the equipment while surgery is underway, a malfunction can have catastrophic consequences. Mechanical failures, structural defects or inadequate inspection and maintenance can cause tables to collapse, shift unexpectedly or become unstable. These issues can potentially result in falls, traumatic injuries, surgical complications or delays in critical medical care.

Surgical Table Collapse Lawsuit

According to the lawsuit, Arriaga underwent surgery at Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen, Texas, on July 9, 2024, when the surgical table he was on allegedly malfunctioned and collapsed while he was anesthetized and unable to protect himself.

Arriaga indicates the incident caused bowel perforation, internal trauma, infection and peritonitis, requiring emergency medical treatment and additional surgical intervention.

He claims that he continues to suffer permanent physical impairment, ongoing pain and reduced earning capacity and can no longer perform the physically demanding work he previously did as a mechanic. 

The complaint alleges GE Healthcare designed, manufactured, inspected and maintained the surgical table, while Cepeda was responsible for ensuring the equipment was properly serviced and safe for use before it was returned to clinical service.

“Despite the extreme risk created by placing unsafe equipment into service, Defendants proceeded with conscious indifference to the rights, safety, and welfare of others, including Plaintiff.”

— Alejandro Moncivais Arriaga v. GE Healthcare Inc. et al.

The filing maintains the case does not involve medical malpractice by physicians or hospital staff, instead that the injuries resulted from a catastrophic equipment failure and negligent inspection, servicing and maintenance of the surgical table before it was placed into use.

Arriaga seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent impairment, lost earning capacity and other losses, as well as punitive damages based on allegations the defendants acted with conscious indifference to patient safety.

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