GRETNA – A local hospital is being sued by a patient who claims she was under its care for a routine heart procedure when an avoidable complication caused her to undergo major emergency surgery and be hospitalized for an extended period of time afterward.
Grace Guidry, and husband Wayne, filed suit against Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, Zehra Jaffery M.D., Zola N’dandy M.D., Mario Pascual M.D. and Yabiz Sedghi M.D. in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 2.
On June 21, 2012, Guidry, who was 72-years-old at the time, claims she went to Ochsner Clinic Foundation to undergo a heart procedure. The plaintiff asserts that during the procedure there was a complication that resulted in an embolism in her right coronary artery that caused the surgery, which should have been routine, to become a major medical emergency. Guidry claims that before the surgery she was living an active life, but after the emergency procedure she was hospitalized for 18 days before being transferred to a nursing home where she stayed for 11 days.
The plaintiffs allege her condition and hospitalization were the result of the defendants’ negligence.
The defendant is accused of medical malpractice.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for mental pain and suffering, emotional anxiety, physical pain and suffering, medical expenses and loss of enjoyment of life.
Guidry is represented by Jerald P. Block of Thibodaux-based Block Law Firm APLC.
The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Stephen C. Grefer.
Case no. 751-186.