The family of a patient who died during a colonoscopy in 2018 at the Portland (Ore.) Clinic is suing the facility for $50 million, according to an Aug. 1 report from the Courtroom View Network.
A jury heard opening arguments in the case July 31. The family of Erric Gilbert is suing the clinic and a team of medical providers.
The lawsuit accuses medical staff of failing to provide emergency resuscitation in time after Mr. Gilbert's vital signs began to crash. The clinic, meanwhile, has placed the blame on an anesthesiologist who settled out of the case.
The family is seeking approximately $7.7 million in economic damages and $50 million in non-economic damages.
Mr. Gilbert scheduled a colonoscopy in 2018 to determine the cause of blood in his stool. Despite having high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea and a high body mass index, the Portland Clinic sent Mr. Gilbert to its affiliated surgery center, the Alberty Surgical Center, for the procedure.
Shortly after David Stellway, MD, administered anesthesia, Mr. Gilbert's blood pressure began to rise and his blood oxygen levels began to fall, according to testimony presented in court.
Young Choi, MD, the gastroenterologist performing the colonoscopy, continued with the procedure even when Kathryn Carlson, the sedation nurse, noted signs of respiratory distress, according to the report.
Dr. Stellway implemented an external respiration mask but did not have Dr. Choi stop the procedure. Eventually a surgical technician in the room called an EMS team, at which point Mr. Gilbert was in full cardiac arrest, the report said.
CPR began 22 minutes after Mr. Gilbert stopped breathing, and he was transported to a local hospital, declared brain dead, and died shortly afterward. Dr. Stellway was brought before a state medical board due to the incident and subsequently surrendered his medical license, according to the report.
Becker's has reached out to Portland Clinic for and will update this story if more information becomes available.