NEW ORLEANS – The wife of a man who died during surgery is requesting a medical review panel review the surgeon who was conducting the operation.
Joyce Frazier filed suit against Nathan H. Fischman, M.D. in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on July 27.
Frazier claims her husband, Benjamin Frazier, underwent an open prostate surgery conducted by doctor Fischman on June 2, 2011. The plaintiff alleges that when the defendant dissected her husband prior to the surgery he lost a large volume of blood and continued to do so during the over two-hour long surgery.
Frazier claims her husband received 13 units of blood and four units of plasma following the surgery, but the doctor did not explore the incision in order to try to repair any damaged tissue. The plaintiff asserts that Benjamin Farzier died less than 12 hours after the surgery due to blood loss.
The defendant is accused of failing to stop the Benjamin Frazier's bleeding during the procedure and failing to stop the bleeding following the surgery, failing to properly diagnose and treat post-operative complications and failing to return the patient to surgery to stop the bleeding.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for pain and suffering, emotional distress and wrongful death.
Frazier is represented by New Orleans-based attorney H. Muldrow Etheredge.
The case has been assigned to Division M Judge Paulette R. Irons.