Physician assistant said to cause injury in positioning elderly plaintiff for orthopedic surgery.
Past medical expenses: $20,884.48
Past caregiving: $20,000
Past: $85,000
Future: $40,000
Hodes Milman Ikuta, LLP by Benjamin T. Ikuta and Michelle B. Hemesath, Irvine.
Reback, McAndrews & Blessey LLP by Robert C. Reback and Brandon S. Sanchez, Manhattan Beach.
Manzar Kuraishi, M.D. (Treating physician.)
Kevin Ehrhart, M.D., orthopedic surgery.
Plaintiff underwent surgery on September 14, 2019 for a broken right hip at 93 years old. Prior to the surgery, during positioning on the orthopedic table, plaintiff suffered a large skin tear on her left lower leg.
Plaintiff contended that a Physician Assistant employed by Los Angeles Orthopedic Institute negligently and carelessly handled plaintiff’s leg while placing plaintiff’s leg in the surgical boot in preparation for surgery, causing the skin tear.
Defendant contended that the Physician Assistant acted reasonably as such a skin tear can occur even without negligence. Defendant noted that three months prior to the surgery, plaintiff suffered a traumatic fall that also resulted in a skin tear. Pictures during both hospitalization showed that plaintiff had extraordinarily thin and frail skin.
Plaintiff required at-home wound care for several months as well as additional caregiving from her caregiver a few more hours a week. The tear/wound did not require skin grafting or surgery.
Defendant never made any offer in the case. Defendant was insured by The Doctor’s Company.
The jury was socially distanced in the gallery and everyone in the courtroom was required to wear masks.
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