Jeff Ryan and Brenton Buckles obtained a defense verdict in Dallas County district court on behalf of two Ob/Gyn physicians. The claimant had undergone a laparoscopic hysterectomy performed by one of the defendants which included a related sling procedure by a non-party urologist. The patient was discharged following the procedure with no apparent complications. With increased nausea, pain and vomiting, the patient was instructed by the defendant surgeon to proceed to the Emergency Room the following day. After arriving in the ER later that evening, she was seen by the ER physician who diagnosed a suspected ileus and admitted the patient for further observation. Both defendants (the surgeon and the on call physician for the night of admission) saw the patient for two days with a working diagnosis of ileus. Early in the morning of post-op day 4, the patient’s condition changed, leading to a repeat CT scan and General Surgery consult. A subsequent exploratory surgery confirmed a perforated bowel which was immediately repaired. Plaintiff claimed both doctors were negligent in failing to timely suspect and diagnose the perforation at the time of admission and that the delay in diagnosis led to significant complications in the healing process. The jury returned with a no-negligence finding for both physicians.
Attorneys: Jeffrey W. Ryan; Brenton Buckles