DCA Diagnostics complaint alleges post-EGD monitoring failure and patient death
The complaint alleges that a patient underwent a scheduled EGD at DCA Diagnostics in Lithia Springs, was transferred to post-procedure recovery, left unattended, and suffered respiratory failure and cardiac arrest that went unnoticed for a period of time. The complaint further alleges that the patient required EMS transfer, remained on a ventilator for nearly five months, later died, and that the produced medical record lacked anesthesia, vital-sign, oxygen, and emergency-event documentation.
Overview
This page concerns a public complaint alleging that post-procedure monitoring and recordkeeping failures at DCA Diagnostics allowed a patient’s respiratory failure and cardiac arrest after an EGD to go unnoticed and untreated before EMS arrival.
Chronology
- According to the complaint, the patient presented to DCA Diagnostics in Lithia Springs on or about June 26, 2022 for a scheduled esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
- The complaint alleges that Dr. Priti Pandya performed the EGD and that anesthesia and nursing personnel participated in the patient’s care before and after the procedure.
- The complaint alleges that after the procedure the patient was transferred to a separate recovery room, left unattended for a period of time, stopped breathing, and suffered respiratory failure and sudden cardiac arrest.
- According to the complaint, EMS was called after the patient was found unconscious, and the patient was transported to a hospital for emergency care.
- The complaint alleges that the patient remained on a ventilator until discharge to a chronic ventilator facility on November 14, 2022 and later died.
- The complaint states that repeated pre-suit medical-record requests produced only four pages and allegedly no anesthesia, vital-sign, pulse-oximetry, blood-pressure, oxygen-use, or emergency-event documentation.
Alleged failures
- The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to appropriately monitor the patient before, during, and after the EGD procedure.
- The complaint alleges that the patient was left unattended in post-procedure recovery and that respiratory failure and cardiac arrest went unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated for a period of time.
- The complaint alleges that DCA Diagnostics and Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia failed to maintain adequate medical records for anesthesia, monitoring, and emergency care.
- The complaint alleges that Dr. Pandya was negligent in her own care and in supervising anesthesia, nursing, and endoscopy personnel.
- The complaint asserts vicarious-liability allegations against the corporate defendants for the alleged acts and omissions of the individual providers.
Entities and tags
Questions this example answers
What does the DCA Diagnostics EGD monitoring complaint allege?
The complaint alleges that a patient underwent a scheduled EGD at DCA Diagnostics in Lithia Springs, was transferred to post-procedure recovery, left unattended, and suffered respiratory failure and cardiac arrest that went unnoticed for a period of time. The complaint further alleges that the patient required EMS transfer, remained on a ventilator for nearly five months, later died, and that the produced medical record lacked anesthesia, vital-sign, oxygen, and emergency-event documentation.
Who is identified in this public case example?
This public case example identifies DCA Diagnostics, LLC, Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, P.C., Priti Pandya, M.D., John Sexton, CRNA, Kiera Holman, RN, Dawn Jones, endoscopy technician, and Brieanna Kocsis, RN. It also tags the source-supported entities DCA Diagnostics, LLC, Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, P.C., Priti Pandya, M.D., John Sexton, CRNA, and Kiera Holman, RN.
What alleged failures are summarized here?
The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to appropriately monitor the patient before, during, and after the EGD procedure. The complaint alleges that the patient was left unattended in post-procedure recovery and that respiratory failure and cardiac arrest went unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated for a period of time. The complaint alleges that DCA Diagnostics and Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia failed to maintain adequate medical records for anesthesia, monitoring, and emergency care.