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Routine Knee Surgery Kills Patient

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A New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer explains that a lawsuit filed for a patient suffering from sleep apnea that was prescribed Percocet and Dilaudid could of lead to his death. The patient was undergoing routine knee replacement surgery and the two drugs were administered. The usage of these drugs should be monitored closely when the patient also has sleep apnea.

The family of the patient has filed a wrongful death lawsuit under the advice of their NY Medical Malpractice Lawyer. The patient suffered from a heart attack while he was traveling to his home. He was transported to hospital but died two days after as a direct result of the heart attack.

The patient underwent the routine surgery in April 2010. The entire medical staff was aware that the patient suffered from sleep apnea and needed specialist care. The surgery was completely successful and the patient was then transferred to the recovery unit for anesthesia, where he seemed to be making a good recovery.

Almost as soon as the patient reached the recovery unit he was discharged again. The doctor authorized his release. Although he was not thought to be in pain, the nurses in the recovery unit administered Dilaudid and Percocet. Anyone with any medical experience should know the risks of using this medication on a patient which has obstructive sleep apnea. The correct procedures were not followed, but doctors discharged him because he seemed ok.

He was helped to get dressed and then his wife collected him at 11:20AM. This meant that he was collected before the drugs had actually had any effect on him. While the patient was checked after having the drugs, no other evaluations were ever conducted by any doctors or nurses. This was a major failing of the health center. If this type of malpractice takes place in The Bronx or Queens, a local attorney should be contacted.

Both of these drugs are used to treat pain. They are known to cause or worsen respiratory depression. This is much more likely in patients which suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. The patients should be monitored for at least 3 hours after receiving the medication and should not be released until after this period.

Medical Malpractice is very common and by hiring a well-known New York Medical Malpractice Attorney you can find out whether or not you have a case. The New York Medical Malpractice Attorney will help you to build your case to improve the chances of winning.

The firm of Stephen Bilkis & Associates and its New York Medical Malpractice Lawyers with convenient locations in the New York Metropolitan Area, including Bay Ridge, NY, can be of invaluable assistance to you if you find yourself a victim of medical malpractice. Enduring pain, disfigurement and financial anguish without professional representation is not the path you should choose.

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