The family of Tamara Walter has filed an initial letter of intent in its plans to sue the New Life Surgery Center (previously called Beverly Hills Surgery Center) and a number of physicians for her Los Angeles wrongful death. The 52-year-old Lawndale woman died three days after undergoing Lap-Band surgery last December. Her loved ones believe she was the victim of medical malpractice.
According to the Los Angeles County coroner's report, Walter's anesthesiologist rendered "suboptimal management" of pressure from her swollen lungs and sleep apnea. Possible inadequate reversal of muscle relaxants may also have been a factor. Included in the report was a report by Dr. Selma Calmes, who is vice chair of the UCLA School of Medicine's anesthesiology department. Calmes says that the surgery center should have taken Walter to a hospital sooner. Instead, she says that the anesthesiologist left the patient for 80 minutes.
Walter's family says that Dr. Daniel Shin, who is from Marina del Ray, was her anesthesiologist. If Shin was negligent and caused her wrongful death, they could him sued for Los Angeles anesthesiology malpractice .
As our Anaheim personal injury law firm reported in an earlier California Injury Lawyers blog post in February, Walter is the second Lap-Band patient to die while under the care of Dr. Atul Madan. The first patient, Ana Renteria, died in February 2010. Walter's death is the third Lap-Band-related death linked to the Los Angeles surgical center.
Lap-Band Surgery
Like all surgeries, Lap-Band surgeries come with risks. Possible complications that can occur:
• Band leakage, erosion, or slippage
• Swallowing problems
• Dehydration
• Stomach pouch enlargement
• Ulceration
• Gastritis
• Nausea
• Vomitting
• Reflux
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Death
If California medical negligence caused the Lap-Band surgery complications or injuries, the victim or his/her family may be able to obtain Los Angeles personal injury recovery.
Lap-Band death blamed on anesthesiologist, Los Angeles Times, April 15, 2011
Family of Lawndale woman who died after Lap-Band surgery to pursue legal action, Daily Breeze, April 15, 2011
Related Web Resources:
New Life Surgery Center
More Blog Posts:
Los Angeles Medical Malpractice?: California Medical Board Investigates Surgeon Following Lawndale Woman's Death After Lap-Band Procedure, California Injury Lawyers Blog, February 4, 2011
Los Angeles County Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Claims Lap-Band Surgery Caused Wife's Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, March 9, 2011
Family is Suing Encino Cosmetic Surgeon for Los Angeles Wrongful Death, California Injury Lawyers Blog, December 29, 2010
