Widow sues hospital, medical staff over husband’s death during heart surgery

GRETNA – The widow of a man who died during heart surgery is suing a local hospital and its medical staff over his death.

Cynthia Varnado, individually and on behalf of her decades husband Lawrence C. Varnado, filed suit against Stanley D. Bleich M.D., Arshed P. Malik M.D., Tod C. Engelhardt M.D., unknown employees, Jefferson Parish Hospital District No. 2, East Jefferson General Hospital and their insurers in the 24th Judicial District Court on Sept. 23.

Varnado contends that on Oct. 9, 2010, her husband was a patient at East Jefferson General Hospital under the care of Engelhardt who was heading a team of medical professionals performing coronary artery bypass surgery on him. The plaintiff asserts that during the procedure her husband began to show signs of distress and complication as his blood pressure spiked, a heart flutter and kidney failure before his heart stopped altogether and he died from what was determined to be a heart attack.

Varnado claims that her husband died due to a lack of proper response by the defendants.

The defendant is accused of medical malpractice, failing to properly and timely manage the deceased’s medical condition, failing to properly monitor the patient, improper administration of medications that interacted with one another and failing to properly diagnose the patient’s heart flutter.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for severe and painful personal injuries, severe mental anguish, loss of consortium, survival damages and loss of consortium.

Varnado is represented by Joyce D. Young of the Chalmette-based Law Office of Ginart & Jones.

The case has been assigned to Division L Judge Donald A. Rowan Jr.

Case no. 742-726.