Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Veteran Varnel Yazzie, who was in his mid-30s, suffered from paraplegia and regularly self-catheterized to decompress his bladder. After he fell from his car, he was transported to the Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. Later that day, two medical assistants inserted a Foley catheter. Nurses attempted to reposition the catheter tip; however, Yazzie began to bleed into the catheter, causing his condition to deteriorate.

Yazzie was administered blood but became hypoxic. A urologist was consulted and arrangements were made to transfer Yazzie to the Mayo Clinic. By the time he arrived, however, he was suffering from respiratory distress. Yazzie was admitted to the facility’s ICU but later died of complications from acute blood loss resulting from urethral catheterization. He is survived by his parents and minor son.

Yazzie’s father, individually and on behalf of his beneficiaries, sued the United States, alleging liability for the medical assistants’ negligent insertion of the catheter. Suit claimed that the medical assistants were not authorized to perform such a procedure and misplaced the catheter tip.

The parties settled for $475,000.

Citation: Yazzie v. United States, No. CV-20-08244-PCT-DJH (D. Ariz. June 15, 2021).

Plaintiff counsel: William Sandweg III and AAJ member John Ager, both of Phoenix.

Plaintiff expert: Joseph Preston, critical care, Orange, Calif.