MDLinx$15.4 Million Verdict Following Fatal Anesthesia Complication

Read the original article

A fatal anesthesia complication during a routine outpatient procedure led to a $15.4 million malpractice verdict in Connecticut. The case highlights critical issues in anesthesia care, patient monitoring, and the potential for posthumous malpractice claims against physicians’ estates. Understanding the details of this case and its implications is crucial for healthcare providers, particularly those involved in anesthesiology and outpatient procedures.

Key Points:

• In March 2017, Maria Ocasio, 57, suffered hypoxia and cardiac arrest during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography at MidState Medical Center.
• The malpractice suit alleged failure to properly monitor the patient and delays in addressing hypoxia complications.
• A New Haven jury awarded $15.4 million to Ocasio’s family in July 2024, including $9.4 million for wrongful death and $5.4 million for pain and suffering.
• The verdict was against the estate of Dr. Guy J. Aliotta (who passed away in 2021) and Meriden-Wallingford Anesthesia Group.
• The case illustrates the importance of proper patient monitoring and timely intervention during anesthesia administration.
• Physicians should be aware that malpractice claims can proceed against their estates after death.
• Medical malpractice insurance policies may offer post-death coverage options, emphasizing the need for physicians to understand their policy details.

“Maria Ocasio should have walked out of that outpatient procedure and enjoyed many more decades with her loving family… Instead, she spent her final days hooked up to machines…”
– Attorney Kathleen Nastri

More in Anesthesiology