Failure to monitor after surgery

Failure to monitor after surgery for adverse effects of pain medication. Our client underwent a routine knee replacement surgery and required pain medication during his post-surgery hospitalization.

He was evaluated before his surgery, and the hospital staff noted that because he had sleep apnea, he was at high risk for a respiratory event, so should have pulse oximetry monitoring after surgery. This was not implemented and he was given oxycodone and morphine for pain control, with inadequate monitoring by nurses not trained in pain management.

He was found unresponsive on the morning of his second post-surgery day. Although he was able to be revived, he remains permanently brain damaged, with both physical and mental disabilities. Our experts said he should have been monitored and that if he had been, his oxygen deprivation would have been detected in time to prevent his anoxic encephalopathy and resulting disability.