Seven-Figure Verdict for Death Caused by Aspiration

A 51-year-old woman who lived in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh and was married to a local doctor underwent gastric bypass surgery. After being discharged to her home, she return to the hospital a few days later because of a bowel obstruction. While undergoing surgery to treat the bowel obstruction, the anesthesiologist did not properly insert the breathing tube (called an endotracheal tube), and the patient ended up with aspiration pneumonia and died several days later. She left two sons under the age of 10. We filed a medical malpractice and wrongful death claim and obtained a multi-million dollar recovery against Shadyside Hospital and the anesthesiologist.