46
HEALTHCARE
NEWS
ADVERTISINGINDEX
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nationalascbilling.com/industry-insights / (866) 948-8001 (pg. 48)
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Surgery Partners. surgerypartners.com / (615) 234-5900
(pgs. 14-17)
Patient sues UPMC after suffering 3rd-degree burns
in operating room
By Ayla Ellison
A
man burned in a fire while undergoing surgery at UPMC's
Williamsport (Pa.) Regional Medical Center is suing the
hospital, an anesthesia firm, two physicians and a nurse, ac-
cording to PennLive.
e lawsuit, filed Sept. 4, alleges Alden Evans Sr. was burned Oct. 30,
2019, when oxygen used during his surgery was ignited by a cautery
that uses heat. Mr. Evans was having basal cell extraction surgery
when he sustained the first-, second- and third-degree burns from the
fire, according to the lawsuit.
Mr. Evans was burned on his face and chest and had blistering on two
fingers. His surgery was ended aer the fire was extinguished, and he
was immediately transferred to a burn recovery center in Allentown,
Pa. He remained at the burn center until Nov. 2, 2019, according to
the report.
Williamsport Regional Medical Center is part of UPMC's Susque-
hanna Region. A spokesperson told PennLive that the health system
does not comment on pending litigation.
According to medical records cited in the lawsuit, the procedure be-
gan at 8:24 a.m. A case management note seven minutes later states in
part: "Fire noted at drapes on the face. Fire announced to the room.
Disconnected O2 (oxygen)," according to the report.
Mr. Evans alleges negligence by the hospital; Anesthesia Associates
of Williamsport; Nathalie Lavallee, MD; Timothy Pastore, MD; and
Kristin Adkins, a registered nurse anesthetist. e lawsuit alleges
the clinicians disregarded burn and explosion prevention standards,
failed to follow fire prevention protocol and draped Mr. Evans in a
way that caused a funneling effect, trapping leaking oxygen around
his neck and face, according to the report. n
