The plaintiff, age forty-three, was experiencing shortness of breath. He went to the emergency room. An arterial blood gas needle stick was performed on the right hand to obtain a blood sample from his radial artery. This was performed by a respiratory therapist employed by the defendant hospital. The therapist struck the plaintiff’s radial nerve instead of the radial artery. The plaintiff also claimed that additional damage was done in failing to keep sufficient pressure on the site of the needle insertion.

The plaintiff suffered a hematoma and damage to the radial nerve. The plaintiff suffered partial impairment to the hand which required surgery and physical therapy. The plaintiff claimed that the needle stick was improperly performed in haste.

The defendant claimed that there was no negligence and that any problems the plaintiff had were due to the plaintiff’s labor-intensive job. According to Trial Reporter a $550,000 verdict was returned. An appeal was pending.

With permission from Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts; Lewis Laska, Editor, 901 Church St., Nashville, TN 37203-3411, 1-800-298-6288.