Daniel E. Holloway
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Northside Hospital complaint alleges a facial surgeon severed a neck artery before hemorrhagic shock and a brain injury

The complaint alleges that a facial plastic surgeon cut an artery in a patient’s neck during cosmetic facial surgery in January 2023. The surgery involved multiple procedures at a Northside Hospital outpatient surgery center. Her estimated blood loss during the operation was greater than one liter, and she continued to deteriorate afterward. She required emergency transport, re-intubation, massive blood transfusion, and six days in intensive care. The complaint alleges that the resulting hemorrhagic shock caused a permanent brain injury and that the surgery also left her with permanent facial nerve damage. It further alleges the hospital had credentialed the surgeon though it knew or should have known of several prior malpractice lawsuits against him.

System
Northside Hospital, Inc.
Facility
Northside Hospital – Meridian Mark Outpatient Surgery Center
Providers involved
Harvey "Chip" Cole, M.D. / Atlanta Oculoplastic Surgery, P.C. / Oculus Plastic Surgery, LLC / InsideOut Beauty, LLC / Marvin M. Palmore, M.D. / Scott M. Kreger, M.D. / Northside Hospital, Inc.
Pattern
Alleged surgical injury to a neck blood vessel during cosmetic facial surgery, compounded by a hospital’s credentialing of the surgeon
Harm
Alleged hemorrhagic shock, permanent brain injury, and facial nerve damage

Overview

This page concerns a public complaint alleging that a facial surgeon cut an artery in a patient’s neck during cosmetic surgery. The surgery took place at a Northside Hospital outpatient center, and the complaint alleges the hospital had credentialed him despite prior malpractice lawsuits.

Chronology

The complaint alleges as follows:

  1. On January 6, 2023, the surgeon performed a multi-procedure facial surgery on the patient at Northside Hospital’s Meridian Mark outpatient surgery center.
  2. During the surgery, the surgeon created a 1 to 2 centimeter arterial bleeder in the patient’s neck.
  3. The patient’s estimated intraoperative blood loss exceeded one liter.
  4. In recovery, she continued to deteriorate, and EMS transported her to the hospital’s emergency department for re-intubation and a massive blood transfusion.
  5. She spent six days in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
  6. The complaint alleges that the bleeding caused hemorrhagic shock that resulted in a permanent brain injury, and she also suffered permanent facial nerve damage.

Alleged failures

The complaint alleges the following failures:

  • The surgeon cut a vessel in her neck region, causing significant blood loss. He also severed nerves, causing permanent numbness and facial dysfunction.
  • The anesthesiologists did not properly assess, treat, and support the patient’s circulatory system as she showed signs of bleeding toward hemorrhagic shock.
  • The hospital credentialed the surgeon though it knew or should have known of several prior malpractice lawsuits against him. It did not investigate or restrict his privileges.
  • The complaint alleges that the hospital’s continued credentialing of the surgeon, and the surgeon’s and anesthesiologists’ negligence, caused the patient’s injuries.
  • The complaint pleads professional negligence, negligent credentialing, and loss of consortium for the patient’s husband, and attaches expert affidavits under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-9.1.

Entities and tags

Northside Hospital, Inc.Meridian Mark Outpatient Surgery CenterAtlanta Oculoplastic Surgery, P.C.Oculus Plastic Surgery, LLCInsideOut Beauty, LLCHemorrhagic shockFacial nerve injuryDeKalb CountySurgical errorNegligent hiring or supervisionFailure to monitorBrain or spine injuryOculoplastic surgeryFacial plastic surgeryAnesthesiology