Georgia medical malpractice allegations

Georgia Medical Malpractice Allegations Involving Emory Healthcare

Public complaint examples involving Emory Healthcare, Emory facilities, or related Emory care settings can help readers see recurring allegation patterns without treating any allegation as proven.

Overview

The examples below summarize allegations from public Georgia medical-malpractice complaints involving Emory Healthcare or Emory-linked care settings. They are included to show the kinds of facilities, conditions, and alleged care failures that appear in filed complaints. Allegations are not findings of liability, and each summary should be read in that limited posture.

Related case summaries

Full case summaries

Read the linked case summary for the fuller allegations-only discussion.

Emory Decatur complaint alleges porta-cath placement in artery before multiple strokes

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a porta-cath intended for chemotherapy access was placed into the arterial system at Emory Decatur Hospital and remained there until after multiple strokes and later surgical removal.

Provider grouping: Emory Decatur Hospital
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Decatur Hospital / Luis A. Quinones, M.D. / Quinones & Sanchez, LLC / Emory University Hospital / Olamide Alabi, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Porta-cath allegedly placed in the subclavian artery instead of the venous system before multiple strokes
Claimed harm: multiple strokes, neurologic procedures, arterial repair, delayed chemotherapy, and later death during litigation

Emory Decatur HospitalWrong-vessel cannulationGeneral surgery Read the case summary

Emory Johns Creek Hospital complaint alleges delayed stroke treatment after repeated TIAs

This page concerns a stroke case at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in which repeated transient ischemic attacks allegedly were not properly recognized or treated, ordered neurological monitoring was not implemented for 16 hours, and a later neurology assessment suspected conversion disorder instead of stroke before MRI confirmati...

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Johns Creek Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Johns Creek Hospital / Nursing staff / Neurologist
Alleged pattern: Three TIAs in eight hours followed by delayed monitoring and missed stroke treatment
Claimed harm: significant permanent disabilities

Emory HealthcareStroke delayEmergency medicine Read the case summary

Emory University Hospital complaint alleges Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers during 2024 admission

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory University Hospital staff failed to follow pressure-injury prevention protocols during a 2024 admission, allowing a bedbound patient to develop Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory University Hospital
Providers involved: Emory University Hospital / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University / John/Jane Doe hospital personnel
Alleged pattern: Bedbound liver-failure admission followed by alleged failure to prevent Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers
Claimed harm: Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers of the sacrum and head

Emory HealthcarePressure ulcersHospital nursing Read the case summary

Spinal epidural hematoma allegedly not recognized in the ICU at Emory University Hospital

This page concerns an ICU case at Emory University Hospital in which bleeding signs and worsening neurological deficits after a thrombectomy allegedly were not properly monitored or recognized as a spinal epidural hematoma until the next day, after severe spinal cord compression had developed.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory University Hospital
Providers involved: Emory University Hospital / Dr. Olamide Alabi / Intensive care unit providers
Alleged pattern: Post-thrombectomy ICU bleeding and neurological deficits followed by delayed recognition of spinal epidural hematoma
Claimed harm: Severe and permanent neurological injuries

Emory HealthcareSpinal epidural hematomaVascular surgery Read the case summary

Closed-loop bowel obstruction allegedly not treated as a surgical emergency at Emory

This page concerns a suspected closed-loop bowel obstruction at Emory, where the complaint alleges that a surgical emergency was left untreated overnight, the oncoming surgeon also did not promptly attend to the patient the next morning, and broader administrative failures contributed to the delay that cost the patient 40% of...

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Healthcare
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Dr. Cheickna Diarra / Dr. Darryl Tookes
Alleged pattern: Suspected closed-loop bowel obstruction followed by overnight delay, morning delay, and loss of 40% of the small intestine
Claimed harm: Forty percent loss of small intestine

Emory HealthcareBowel obstructionEmergency medicine Read the case summary

Exactech recall and bone-lesion case allegedly missed at The Emory Clinic

This page concerns follow-up care after an Exactech ankle implant recall, where two physicians allegedly knew of the recall warning about bone-destroying lesions but still failed over multiple visits to diagnose a growing cystic lesion visible on X-rays beneath the talus implant.

Provider grouping: The Emory Clinic
Care setting: The Emory Clinic
Providers involved: The Emory Clinic / Dr. Sameh Labib / Dr. Rohan Bhimani
Alleged pattern: Exactech ankle-implant recall followed by repeated failure to diagnose a growing cystic lesion visible on X-rays
Claimed harm: More extensive surgery after the lesion doubled in size

The Emory ClinicFailure to diagnoseOrthopedics Read the case summary

Worthy complaint alleges repeated CHOA-Hughes Spalding discharges before pediatric pneumonia death

This page concerns a public complaint captioned Worthy v. Emory Healthcare Inc. alleging that a pediatric patient died after repeated emergency-room and pediatric-office encounters in which providers allegedly failed to perform diagnostic testing or admit the child despite abnormal vital signs.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: CHOA-Hughes Spalding Emergency Room
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare Inc. / Emory University / The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Children’s Hospital Atlanta / CHOA-Hughes Spalding Emergency Room / Jennifer M. Collier-Madon, M.D. / Mark A. Griffiths, M.D. / Kaley L. French, M.D. / Anjali S. Chaudhari, M.D. / Rajani Chaudhari, M.D. / Rajani Chaudhari MD/PC
Alleged pattern: Alleged repeated pediatric emergency and office discharges without pneumonia workup or admission
Claimed harm: death from extensive advanced pneumonia, pleuritis, and empyema

Emory Healthcare / Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaFailure to diagnose pneumoniaPediatrics Read the case summary

Emory Decatur complaint alleges phlebotomy errors before compartment syndrome

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that negligent phlebotomy practices at Emory Decatur Hospital caused compartment syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis, MRSA infection, and multiple surgeries.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory Decatur Hospital / Angelia Baker, phlebotomist
Alleged pattern: Alleged multiple needle sticks, needle reuse, and failure to stop a blood draw after patient complaints
Claimed harm: compartment syndrome, necrotizing fasciitis, MRSA infection, emergency fasciotomy, scarring, and tissue contracture

Emory HealthcareNeedle reuse allegationPhlebotomy Read the case summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding complaint alleges improper discharge before fatal epiglottitis

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding improperly discharged a pediatric patient with abnormal vital signs and respiratory symptoms before the patient died from acute epiglottitis and pneumonia.

Provider grouping: Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Care setting: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding
Providers involved: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding / Alesia Fleming, M.D. / Jenna Gorbatkin, M.D. / Emory + Children’s Pediatric Institute, Inc. / Emory University
Alleged pattern: Alleged discharge of a pediatric patient with abnormal vital signs and respiratory symptoms
Claimed harm: death from acute epiglottitis and pneumonia two days after emergency-department discharge

Emory University / Children’s Healthcare of AtlantaFailure to diagnoseEmergency medicine Read the case summary

Emory Decatur Hospital complaint alleges delayed emergency C-section after fetal distress

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that Emory Decatur Hospital providers failed to timely respond to fetal distress during a high-risk labor induction and delayed emergency delivery.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Decatur Hospital / The Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Inc. / Certified nurse midwife
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to respond to fetal distress and meconium-stained fluid during high-risk labor induction
Claimed harm: hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, irreversible brain damage, and newborn death one week after delivery

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorObstetrics Read the case summary

Emory Rehabilitation Hospital complaint alleges baclofen pump programming overdose

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that an implanted baclofen pump was incorrectly programmed during a refill at an Emory Healthcare facility, causing baclofen toxicity and neurological injury.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Rehabilitation Hospital
Providers involved: David T. Burke, M.D. / Emory Rehabilitation Hospital / Emory Brain Health Center
Alleged pattern: Alleged medication programming error during intrathecal baclofen pump refill
Claimed harm: baclofen toxicity, toxic encephalopathy, permanent seizure disorder, and reduced motor function

Emory HealthcareMedication errorPhysical medicine and rehabilitation Read the case summary

Emory Brain Health Center complaint alleges syncope fall during Botox treatment

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a neurology patient at Emory Brain Health Center fainted and fell during Botox treatment after reporting lightheadedness and a history of vasovagal syncope.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Brain Health Center
Providers involved: The Emory Clinic, Inc. / Emory Brain Health Center / Kathryn E. Kimrey, D.O.
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to monitor and assist a patient with a known fainting history during needle injections
Claimed harm: facial trauma, head strike, bitten tongue, and brief loss of consciousness

Emory HealthcareFailure to monitorNeurology Read the case summary

Emory Midtown complaint alleges unnecessary sternotomy after equivocal aortic-dissection imaging

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Emory University Hospital Midtown performed a median sternotomy to evaluate suspected aortic dissection despite inconclusive imaging and a later myocarditis diagnosis.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory University Hospital Midtown
Providers involved: Emory University Hospital Midtown / Alison Folger Ward, M.D. / Dale Shelton Deas, M.D. / Woodrow Jackson Farrington II, M.D.
Alleged pattern: Alleged unnecessary median sternotomy based on inconclusive imaging for suspected aortic dissection
Claimed harm: invasive sternotomy for a condition the complaint says was not present, followed by myocarditis diagnosis and treatment

Emory HealthcareUnnecessary surgeryCardiothoracic surgery Read the case summary

Grady and Emory complaint alleges pressure-injury care failures before sepsis death

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that providers at Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown failed to prevent and properly treat a severe sacral pressure injury in a post-surgical patient.

Provider grouping: Grady Health System and Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Grady Memorial Hospital
Providers involved: Grady Memorial Hospital Corporation / Emory Healthcare, Inc. / Emory University Hospital Midtown
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to reposition and treat a post-surgical patient with a progressing sacral pressure injury
Claimed harm: Stage 4 sacral pressure injury, osteomyelitis, sepsis, septic shock, respiratory failure, and death

Grady Health System and Emory HealthcarePressure ulcersWound care Read the case summary

Emory Decatur complaint alleges meningitis and sepsis misdiagnosis before stroke

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that emergency providers at Emory Decatur Hospital failed to diagnose and treat bacterial meningitis and sepsis before discharging a patient who later suffered a stroke.

Provider grouping: Emory Healthcare
Care setting: Emory Decatur Hospital
Providers involved: Emory Decatur Hospital / James H. Elder, IV, M.D. / DeKalb Emergency Physicians Associates, LLC / Vituity-Georgia Hospitalists, PC / Vituity-Georgia Intensivists, PC
Alleged pattern: Alleged failure to diagnose and treat bacterial meningitis and sepsis before discharge
Claimed harm: stroke, sepsis, meningitis, right-sided weakness, and expressive aphasia

Emory HealthcareFailure to diagnoseEmergency medicine Read the case summary

Related allegation types

Emergency-room discharge / failure to admit 3 case summaries Radiology / imaging follow-up 3 case summaries Surgical complication delay 3 case summaries Airway / respiratory failure 2 case summaries Delayed stroke diagnosis 2 case summaries Pediatric emergency / discharge 2 case summaries Pressure ulcers / wound care 2 case summaries Sepsis / infection delay 2 case summaries Birth injury / OB emergency delay 1 case summary Bowel obstruction / abdominal emergency 1 case summary Informed consent / wrong procedure 1 case summary Medication error / overdose 1 case summary Orthopedic / spine surgical complication 1 case summary Post-operative bleeding / hematoma 1 case summary

Related Georgia opinions

Related Georgia Opinions

Court of Appeals: § 9-11-9.1 affidavits turn on relevant experience, not specialty labels. The Court of Appeals reversed dismissal where the trial court demanded orthopedic post-operative experience from a § 9-11-9.1 expert. At the pleading stage, the question is whether the expert's experience is relevant to the alleged omission, not whether the expert shares the defendant's specialty. Georgia Court of Appeals reverses summary judgment in Dilantin extravasation malpractice case. The Court of Appeals of Georgia reversed summary judgment for Emory Healthcare, holding that conflicting testimony about which IV site was used and expert testimony based on differential diagnosis created jury questions in a Dilantin extravasation case. Georgia Court of Appeals affirms summary judgment over deficient expert affidavits in IV infiltration case. The Court of Appeals of Georgia affirmed summary judgment for Emory Healthcare, holding that the plaintiffs' expert-nurse affidavits failed to attach referenced medical records and did not establish qualifications to opine on causation from delayed detection of a neonatal IV infiltration. Georgia Court Remands Medical Malpractice Case for Tolling Analysis After COVID-19 Emergency Order The Court of Appeals vacated summary judgment in a malpractice renewal action, holding that the renewal statute does not defeat the five-year statute of repose but that the trial court must consider COVID-19 judicial-emergency tolling under Golden.