Ron Sellers saw an orthopedic surgeon for problems with his left hip. The surgeon recommended a total hip replacement. Mr. Sellers' family doctor was asked to provide "medical clearance" for the surgery, but his examination was brief and his conclusion was somewhat vague. Although Mr. Sellers had suffered a heart attack several years earlier, an evaluation with a heart doctor prior to surgery was not ordered.
The hip replacement surgery went forward, and Mr. Sellers suffered a devastating stroke just after surgery. Had a heart doctor examined Mr. Sellers before surgery, it is likely that the surgery would have been cancelled, as it would have been discovered that Mr. Sellers had a partially-blocked carotid artery. The artery easily could have been fixed before the hip surgery, and the stroke could have been avoided. A settlement was reached just prior to trial with the family doctor and hospital.
