William H. Chamblee and Jennifer H. Saucedo obtained a take-nothing defense verdict on behalf of a family medicine physician in Dallas County, Texas. The Plaintiffs’ 27-year-old son underwent foot surgery by a podiatrist, and the Defendant family medicine physician conducted a physical examination and provided preoperative clearance one week prior to the surgery. The surgery was without complication, and the patient went home and continued to follow up with the podiatrist. The patient died at home approximately five weeks after the surgery due to a pulmonary embolism. The Plaintiffs sued, alleging that both the family medicine physician and the podiatrist were negligent in failing to recommend or order postoperative anticoagulant therapy for the patient, and that this resulted in the development of deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism and ultimately the patient’s death. Plaintiffs sought damages of over $200,000 and up to $1.5 million. Mr. Chamblee and Ms. Saucedo, on behalf of the family medicine physician, argued that the standard of care did not require – and the applicable medical literature did not support – anticoagulant therapy in connection with foot and ankle surgery, and regardless, the decision of whether to order anticoagulant therapy was up to the surgeon. After deliberating for a couple of hours, the jury returned a unanimous defense verdict, finding no negligence on the part of the family medicine physician or the podiatrist.
Attorneys: William H. Chamblee; Jennifer H. Saucedo
