A personal injury lawsuit has been brought against a Northland orthopedic surgeon and the Saint Luke’s Health System.
According to the six page lawsuit, Carolyn Clark, 82, of St. Joseph, sustained multiple permanent injuries during a surgical procedure performed by Dr. Daniel Weed.
In May of 2017, Clark opted to undergo a total left hip arthroplasty at St. Luke’s North Hospital, says court documents. At some point during the medical procedure, Clark sustained an injury to her sciatic nerve, according to court documents.
“Immediately following the surgical procedure, Mrs. Clark exhibited symptoms of perioperative nerve injury, including but not limited to, left foot drop, severe and persistent pain in her left leg and foot, paresthesia and numbness in her left leg and foot,” wrote her attorney, Edward Murphy.
According to the lawsuit, Clark was later diagnosed with a chronic pain condition and other permanent disorders.
As the lawsuit tells it, Dr. Weed was aware that his patient sustained a nerve injury that resulted in the foot drop condition. The lawsuit alleges the injury was due to the improper placement of a retractor.
“Progress notes” written by Dr. Weed state it is his belief that the retractor caused the foot drop, the suit says.
Those same medical records allegedly show that Dr. Weed was the individual who placed the retractors.
When Clark and her daughter questioned Dr. Weed about what could have contributed to the foot drop, they were allegedly told by the doctor that the “sciatic nerve injury was caused by his improper placement of the retractor.”
The lawsuit contends the orthopedic surgeon was negligent and is seeking more than $25,000 in damages for the nerve injury and chronic pain condition.