Personal Injury Law

Trial Begins In Medical Malpractice Case

By Steven M. Levin and John J. Perconti

The Aspen Daily News is reporting on a medical malpractice case that is underway involving a well-known local surgeon. The defendant, one of only two general surgeons in the area, Dr. William Rodman, is charged with providing negligent medical care to Dan Bopeley in 2006.

Mr. Bopeley was treated by Dr. Rodman for a blot clot in his leg. As part of the procedure, Dr. Rodman inserted a filter into his vein. However, Bopeley claims that the filter did not operate correctly. Instead of catching clots and preventing them from traveling to his heart, as it was intended to do, the filter itself failed to deploy properly causing severe damage.

The suit alleges that Dr. Rodman was negligent in both picking the filter to use on Mr. Bopeley and actually inserting it into his body. After the first filter problems, Mr. Bopeley sought a different doctor who inserted another filter without any complication.

Filters are common medical devices typically used as in this case to prevent blot clots from traveling to other parts of the body and causing medical complications. However, as with any medical device, if it is not selected properly and inserted into the body appropriately, it may cause severe complications. Medical devices of all kinds are crucial components to many health care plans. However, patients always deserve to be provided proper care when using these devices. When doctor error leads to problems, patients deserve compensation for the harm and suffering at the hands of medical device error.

Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys at Levin & Perconti have experienced many legal situations involving medical devices that do more harm than good. From pacemakers and filters to catheters and stents, no device inserted into a patient?s body should make the patient?s health worse than before. If you suspect you or someone you know may have been the victim of similar medical negligence, please take steps to ensure rights are vindicated.

Full post as published by Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog on July 28, 2010 (boomark / email).