A relatively simple surgery to dilate the superior vena cava at a Jerusalem hospital ended tragically, after the medical team inadvertently punctured the patient's heart and, despite her deteriorating condition, delayed providing critical care.
As a result, the patient died on the operating table.
The deceased's family contacted attorney Moran Avrahami Yom Tov, who specializes in medical malpractice claims.
In a letter of demand, which Attorney Avrahami sent to the hospital, it is alleged that in June 2023, the woman, aged 70, was hospitalized at the hospital for elective surgery following a stenosis discovered at the tip of a catheter previously inserted into the superior vena cava. This is a central vein responsible for draining blood from the upper part of the body to the heart.
According to the details of the case, a new catheter was inserted in her at noon, but at that point it was discovered that the blood flow was not normal. During the catheter fixation, the deceased suddenly lost consciousness for a few seconds, but recovered. Shortly thereafter, in the recovery room, she lost consciousness again, stopped breathing, and required resuscitation.
At this point, the deceased was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade - a life-threatening condition in which fluid builds up around the heart and interferes with its function. However, surprisingly and contrary to standard medical practice, the medical team sent the patient for chest and brain CT scans, instead of immediately treating her condition.
Attorney Avrahami Yom Tov claimed in the letter of demand that this decision led to a critical delay of approximately two hours in treatment, and seriously harmed the deceased's chances of being saved.
According to a medical report attached to the letter of demand, the deceased was later returned to the catheterization room, but had already suffered from circulatory collapse. The attempt to drain the fluid and save her failed, and when the medical team opened her chest in an emergency operation, it became clear that as a result of the careless insertion of the catheter, a perforation had formed in the heart wall.
Despite the medical team's efforts to save her, the woman died during surgery.
According to a medical expert who reviewed the details of the incident, the treatment of the patient was negligent from the moment the tamponade was identified. According to him, sending the patient for imaging tests in her condition was a serious mistake, a mistake that effectively thwarted the possibility of saving her within the "golden hour" - that critical time frame in which immediate medical treatment could save a life.
Attorney Avrahami Yom Tov claimed in the letter of demand that critical deficiencies were discovered in the deceased's medical file. According to her, the file was missing resuscitation reports and a detailed report of the catheterization procedure.
According to her, "This is not only a matter of medical negligence but also a violation of the duty of documentation, which is essential for understanding the sequence of events in the hospital."
Following these claims, the parties began intensive negotiations, which resulted in a quick compromise, according to which the hospital would compensate the deceased's family with 370,000 shekels - even before a lawsuit was filed.
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