Hospital sued over man’s death from allegedly severe internal bleeding following surgery

GRETNA – The family of a deceased man is suing a local hospital over an alleged misdiagnosis of severe internal bleeding that led to death.

Muriel Yost Surcouf, individually and on behalf on her deceased husband, Milton L. Surcouf; Laura Surcouf Lewis; Sheela Surcouf; Holly Surcouf Clark and Michael Surcouf filed suit against East Jefferson Surgery Center LLC, East Jefferson Ambulatory Surgery Center, Jospeh F. Uddo Jr. M.D. and Roland J. Bourgeois Jr. M.D. in the 24th Judicial District Court on Sept. 12.

The Surcoufs allege that Milton Surcouf went to East Jefferson Surgery Center on Oct. 7, 2010 where he underwent a laparoscopic repair of a hernia. The plaintiffs contends that after being discharged form the surgery he was instructed to go home and later that evening after becoming faint, and not being able to urinate, his family took him to the emergency room where his condition was stabilized. The Surcoufs assert the following day they contacted Milton’s cardiologist and told him of the emergency room visit and he told them to put him back on blood thinner medication after which two days later his condition had worsened, he was confused, uncomfortable and pale and his genitals were black and swollen.

On Oct. 11 the Surcoufs took Milton back to the emergency room where it was revealed he had a large pooling of internal bleeding in his pelvic and abdominal area that he was unable to recover from and subsequently died on Oct. 12, 2010.

The defendants are accused of failing to properly care for and treat the patient, failing to properly report and monitor the patient, failing to properly and timely report the patient’s condition, failing to consult appropriate physicians or specialists, failing to timely and properly request laboratory and diagnostic tests and failing to properly communicate with other treating physicians.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain, mental anguish, physical disability, medical expenses, funeral expenses, death, lost income, loss of earning capacity, loss of love and affection, loss of consortium, survival damages and wrongful death.

The plaintiffs are represented by Richard T. Gallagher Jr. of the Metairie-based Gallagher Law Firm LLC.

The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Stephen C. Grefer.

Case no. 742-391.