When anyone signs up for a surgical procedure, they expect that the doctor not only knows what he or she is doing in the operating room, but that the materials, tools, and anything else used during the process of the surgery is approved by the appropriate agencies. Now, federal prosecutors are saying that one company, Norian, and the parent company, Synthes, skirted the lengthy and expensive regulatory process, in what one doctor described as “human experimentation” in two new, and very similar, Oklahoma wrongful death lawsuits.
Case Examples – Bone Cement Injections
While an addition was being built on her house in Honduras, Reba Golden injured her back when she fell two floors down. When Golden returned to Seattle for a routine spinal surgery in 2007, she died on the operating table after suffering blood clots and bleeding severely. Another patient, Joan Bryant, had suffered back pain since a car accident in 1990. In 2009, she also sought spinal surgery in Seattle and bled out on the operating table. At least three other patients before Golden and Bryant suffered the same demise of personal injury and then death.
What Happened?
In each one of these cases, the surgeon injected bone cement into the spines of the patients during the procedures. Some of the matter from the bone cement seeped into the patients’ bloodstreams, which caused clotting. None of the patients were aware that Norian bone cement had not received the seal of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Allegations
Both the Golden and Bryant families have filed lawsuits against the companies, Dr. Jens Chapman, the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, and the state of Washington. They allege that the doctor knew the bone cement caused lethal clotting and the hospital and university were aware – or should have been aware – that the product was not approved for such use. The Golden lawsuit also accuses the doctor, the president of Synthes, and the university of operating a criminal enterprise under the Washington Criminal Profiteering Act.
Contact A Legal Representative
Sadly, not even a highly experienced Oklahoma wrongful death attorney can bring back the patients who died on the operating table due to improper use of bone cement. However, someone needs to be held accountable for the untimely deaths of the patients. If someone you love has died in the operating room, give the law offices of Frasier, Frasier & Hickman, LLP a call at 918-779-3658 or (local) 918-779-3658 to discuss your case.