Patient’s leg is amputated after knee surgery goes horribly wrong – as surgeon tried to cover mistake, lawsuit claims

A Southern California man went to the hospital for routine knee surgery but ended up with an amputated leg, a lawsuit alleges.

Wayne Wolff, the patient, and his wife, Lisa Wolff, are now suing the University of California Board of Regents for abuse and neglect, negligence, loss of consortium, and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Wayne, 58, was diagnosed with a left medial meniscus tear and mild knee arthritis in November 2023 by Dr. Dean Wang, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at the University of California Irvine Medical Center, according to the lawsuit, obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

The Independent has reached out to the hospital for comment.

On April 3, 2024, he underwent a two-and-a-half hour surgery that resulted in a cut blood vessel. It took 35 minutes to stop the bleeding, during which time he lost about one liter of blood, or one-fifth the amount of blood that the average human body holds.

UCI Irvine in Orange County, where a man is suing the University of California Board of Regents for negligence after his knee surgery resulted in an amputation

UCI Irvine in Orange County, where a man is suing the University of California Board of Regents for negligence after his knee surgery resulted in an amputation (Google Maps)

Wang allegedly told Lisa that he “nicked a vein” during surgery and that her husband lost 200 to 250 milliliters of blood, the suit says.

The California couple claims that the surgeon actually hit the popliteal artery, which supplies blood to the lower leg.

The Wolffs claim Wang “intentionally misinformed” Lisa “of the character and severity of the injury caused during the surgery,” the lawsuit says, according to the Orange County Register. The filing adds that Wang should have known that amount of blood would have come from cutting an artery, not a vein.

Wayne suffered excruciating pain over the next three days, pain that was barely alleviated by any one of a variety of drugs: fentanyl, oxycodone, dilaudid and ketamine.

Lisa, a former emergency room nurse, implored doctors and medical staff to give her husband scans to determine the cause of the pain, which she believed to be inconsistent with pain resulting from a knee operation.

After a doctor and nurse worried they couldn’t find a pulse in his foot, Wang checked the next day and also couldn’t find a pulse, the filing states. The patient said he had lost feeling in the bottom of his foot and was unable to move it.

The surgeon then informed the couple that he had to leave for a two-day conference. While he was away, Lisa continued to ask for scans. One doctor on April 5 ordered an ultrasound — which was canceled by Wang 30 minutes later, the suit says. That evening, a nurse threatened to call security on Lisa if she didn’t leave her husband’s room.

Wang returned the following day and operated on Wayne. He “inaccurately and recklessly” told Lisa that Wayne had suffered a blood clot in his artery, the suit alleges. An amputation might be necessary, the surgeon allegedly said.

During yet another surgery, the vascular surgeon operating on Wayne told Lisa that the issue wasn’t a blood clot but that the popliteal artery had been severed and his lower leg had received no blood flow as a result, the filing claims.

Wang “never attended to plaintiff Wayne Wolff’s most glaring custodial care need — seeking out the source of his unbearable pain,” the suit says. “There is little doubt the use of simple imaging, such as an ultrasound, would have saved his leg. His most basic need was ignored, and recklessly neglected.”

The lower half of the 58-year-old’s leg was removed on April 14.

When asked why he canceled the ultrasound and refused to order tests to determine the cause of Wayne’s pain, Wang allegedly replied: “I don’t know.”

“We look forward to adjudicating this matter in a public forum,” Jeoffrey Robinson, an attorney for the Wolffs, told the Los Angeles Times. “This scenario should never happen to anyone ever again.”

Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Pakistan moves closer to Bangladesh as India watches warily

Pakistan moves closer to Bangladesh as India watches warily

Anbarasan Ethirajan South Asia Regional Editor Getty Images Bangladesh imported 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan in February The dramatic political developments in Bangladesh that led to prime minister Sheikh Hasina being ousted last year have thrown up many surprises – including Dhaka’s growing closeness with one-time foe Pakistan. Last month, after decades of troubled

Death toll from US strikes on Yemen rises to 53, Houthis say

Death toll from US strikes on Yemen rises to 53, Houthis say

Watch: US begins Yemen strikes The death toll from US strikes on Yemen has risen to 53, including five children, the Houthi rebels’ health ministry said. The US said it launched a “decisive and powerful” wave of air strikes on Houthi targets on Saturday, with President Donald Trump citing Houthi attacks on shipping in the

'I had one child and I lost him'

‘I had one child and I lost him’

George Wright and Cachella Smith BBC News “I lost everything”: Survivors and relatives speak of their grief Marija Taseva was enjoying a night out with her sister at the Pulse club in Kocani, North Macedonia, on Saturday when disaster struck. They were watching DNK, a popular hip-hop duo in the country, when a fire broke

Trump/Houthi split

Houthi drones shot down by US forces after Trump launches ‘decisive’ airstrikes

U.S. warships have shot down roughly a dozen Houthi drones since President Donald Trump launched airstrikes against the terrorist organization on Saturday, Fox News has learned. A senior defense official told Fox News of the developments on Sunday. The drones were aimed at the U.S. Navy’s Truman Carrier Strike Group, and were shot down “well

Rain ending tonight ahead of a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day

Rain ending tonight ahead of a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day

The Action News Jax First Alert Weather Team declared a First Alert Weather Day Sunday due to a chance for severe weather in our area. Our entire viewing area was under a Tornado Watch until 3 P.M. Sunday, with it extended to 5 P.M. for St. Johns and Putnam Counties. After several tornado and severe

Nacton giant warehouse leaves neighbours 'in tears'

Nacton giant warehouse leaves neighbours ‘in tears’

George King BBC News, Suffolk Reporting fromFelixstowe Road, Nacton George King/BBC Residents say East Suffolk Council ignored their concerns over the huge warehouse being built behind their homes Villagers say a “gigantic mega-shed” built near their homes has blocked their view and left them feeling like they are in a prison camp. What is life

In this photo released by the Vatican, Pope Francis is seen praying inside Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Sunday.

Pope Francis seen in first photo since hospitalization : NPR

In this photo released by the Vatican, Pope Francis is seen praying inside Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Sunday. Vatican Press Hall/via AP hide caption toggle caption Vatican Press Hall/via AP A photo released by the Vatican on Sunday showed Pope Francis for the first time since he entered the hospital over a month ago for

Pope Francis is seen for the first time since his hospitalization

Pope Francis is seen for the first time since his hospitalization

Joshua McElwee  |  Reuters Pope Francis sends first audio message since being hospitalized People gathering to pray at St. Peter’s Square were moved by an audio “thank you” message from the pope, who is in the hospital. VATICAN CITY — The Vatican on Sunday released the first image of Pope Francis in hospital since he began treatment for double

Alleged render of iPhone 17 air in silver color.

iPhone 17 Air might not serve a price shock, after all

Ever since we first heard murmurs of Apple prepping an ultra-slim iPhone, speculations were rife about a fittingly high asking price. But it seems buyers won’t get hit with an absurd “innovation tax” for the iPhone 17 Air model later this year. According to Bloomberg, the upcoming phone might be priced at “roughly $900.” To

Putin and Trump recent split image

Witkoff says Trump, Putin to speak this week on phone about Ukraine-Russia deal

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Sunday that President Donald Trump will likely speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.  In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Witkoff was asked when a deal to end the war in Ukraine could be anticipated.  “The president uses the timeframe weeks,

US envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump  Photograph: (Reuters)

Trump to talk to Putin this week; White House puts Iran ‘on notice’, and more

US President Donald Trump is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. White House put Iran ‘on notice’ following strikes in Yemen, killing “multiple” Houthi leaders on Sunday (Mar 16). At least 11 people were killed after a convoy of buses was attacked by Baloch

Tweet describes witnessing a woman get into her car, play Shania Twain, vape, and reverse into another car in a parking lot, humorously noting it's in California

Here Are The Absolute Funniest Weekend Tweets

Editor’s Note: While we can’t endorse what X has become, we can bring you the worthwhile moments that still exist there, curated and free of the surrounding chaos. For some reason, the best tweets always seem to happen on the weekend. Here are some funny ones that recently came across my timeline. Be sure to

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x