VA Malpractice Lawsuit Results in $4.34M Verdict Over Spine Surgery Foam

|
AboutLawsuits

Add Your Comments

A 66-year old California man who is now confined to a wheelchair as a result of spinal surgery errors involving the use of Surgifoam at the Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in West Los Angeles, was awarded $4.34 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Alvin Johnson, in a complaint brought against the government over the actions of two VA surgeons, Antonio DeSalle and Donald Shields, who performed the October 2005 spine surgery.

According to the VA medical malpractice lawsuit, Johnson went to the VA medical center to have surgery on a ruptured disc in his back. During the surgery, the lawsuit alleges that DeSalle and Shields injected him with Surgifoam, which is used to absorb excess fluids in the area of the surgery. Some of the foam, which should have been removed, was left in Johnson’s back and expanded, pressing against his spinal cord. This resulted in permanent spinal damage that now requires Johnson to use a wheelchair.

Do You Know about…

Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION
Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit
Spinal-Cord-Stimulation-Lawsuit

Do You Know About…

Spinal Cord Stimulator lawsuits

Spinal cord stimulator lawsuits are being investigated for individuals who suffered unnecessary shocks, burns or other problems, often resulting in the need for additional surgery to remove the SCS.

Learn More
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION

Judge Feess said in his verdict that DeSalle and Shields were told by another doctor who took an MRI of Johnson’s back that his spine was compressed. However, Judge Feess said, the two doctors took no action to correct the problem.

The government was found liable for Johnson’s botched spine surgery, and he was awarded $4.34 million in damages. According to a report by Courthouse News Service, Johnson now depends on others for daily car and only has limited control of his arms and legs.

Tags: California, Los Angeles, Malpractice, Medical Malpractice, Spine Surgery, VA Medical Center
Image Credit: |

More Lawsuit Stories

1 Comments

Mark
I had a laminectomy at the VA which now makes it impossible for me to hold my head up.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Comments

This field is hidden when viewing the form
I authorize the above comments be posted on this page
Post Comment
Weekly Digest Opt-In

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

MORE TOP STORIES

Judge Clears Bard PowerPort Lawsuit for Trial, Rejecting Motion for Summary Judgment
A U.S. District Judge refused to dismiss a Bard PowerPort lawsuit just two weeks before it is supposed to go to trial, saying the manufacturer will have to convince a jury with their arguments and not him.
Dupixent Lawyers Seek Leadership Positions in MDL Over Cancer Risks
Plaintiffs propose that about a dozen attorneys be appointed to leadership positions in the growing Dupixent cancer litigation.
MORE ABOUT: DUPIXENT LAWSUIT
Lawyers Preparing 35 Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits in Core Discovery Pool
Nearly three dozen Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits are being prepared for early test trials, involving the deposition of plaintiffs who say they suffered tooth loss as a result of using the opioid addiction treatment.