Professional Negligence Law Reporter

Medicine

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Failure to Detect Misplaced Catheter

May/June 2019

Connie Lockhart, 58, was hospitalized after overdosing on medication. An ER physician inserted a central line femoral catheter in Lockhart’s right leg; however, this was misplaced into her femoral artery instead of her femoral vein. She was transferred to the facility’s ICU, where she received care from critical care pulmonologist Sachin Lavania. Nurses informed Lavania that Lockhart’s leg had become cold, mottled, and pulseless. After another nurse confirmed that the catheter had been placed in Lockhart’s artery, Lavania terminated the infusion of vasoactive medications from the central line femoral catheter to her leg. Lockhart developed gangrene, however, necessitating a right below-the-knee amputation.

Lockhart sued Lavania and Cherokee Lung & Sleep Specialists, P.C., among others, alleging Lavania failed to timely detect the misplaced catheter, negligently waited seven hours to see Lockhart, and failed to timely terminate the infusion of vasoactive medications. Suit did not claim lost income.

The jury awarded $4.7 million, apportioning liability at 27 percent to Lavania and Cherokee Lung & Sleep, 3 percent to Lockhart, and 70 percent, collectively, to nonparty defendants. The plaintiff will reportedly appeal the verdict in favor of the emergency room physician after determining that the plaintiff’s expert, a physician who works in a critical care setting, could not provide testimony against an emergency physician.

Citation: Lockhart v. Bloom, No. 16EV003451 (Ga. St. Ct. Fulton Cnty. Jan. 31, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member Lloyd Bell and Darren Summerville, both of Atlanta.