Detroit Family Files Wrongful Death Suit

Detroit, Michigan saw the tragic loss of an award-winning journalist and radio personality, Angelo Henderson in February of 2014. Henderson passed away in his home in the three weeks following a surgery on his left knee. Now, after some careful review of the surgery and other medical proceedings, his surviving wife has filed a case alleging medical negligence during his surgery that may have led to his death. Henderson suffered a deadly blood clot that entered his lungs, ultimately causing his death. The lawsuit names the UnaSource Surgery Center, Performance Orthopedics, and the surgeon, Dr. Joseph Guettler.

The Henderson Family’s Case

The family’s attorney has stated that Henderson’s ultimate cause of death was a venous thromboembolism, a blood clot that starts in a vein. this blood clot then broke free and made its way to the lung, where the real damage occurred. The lawsuit alleges that Henderson had a number of risk factors for developing blood clots, but the surgeon and other medical professionals failed to either discuss how it may affect him or treat him appropriately for the condition. These risk factors included age, hypertension, obesity, lack of mobility, and of course the recentness of the surgery.

Henderson had suffered the initial knee injury in a fall and received surgery to repair his knee. The family’s attorney also alleged that Henderson should have been offered medications, and medical devices or compression stockings to help reduce his chances of developing a blood clot. According to the lawsuit, none of these were provided to Henderson following his surgery.

In addition to this, the suit suggests that Dr. Guettler did not perform a full analysis of Henderson’s medical history, nor was Henderson advised on all of the risks that the surgery opened to him. Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, can have certain warning signs that patients can be on the watch for following their surgeries. Experiencing sudden swelling, pain, or a warming feeling in the legs can be a sign that a person may need to go to an emergency room for immediate medical attention. The lawsuit argues that had Henderson been armed with this knowledge he may have had a fighting chance to prevent his death from happening and could have been provided emergency care. Failure to instruct Henderson on warning signs, coupled with the lack of what could have been helpful treatment from the surgery and medical centers together led to Henderson’s death, the suit argues.

The family is now seeking a jury trial and at least $25,000 in damages for wrongful death.

Medical negligence and medical malpractice cases can be complicated in nature. These cases often involve a deep review of the medical operations or screenings themselves, as well as the doctor’s instructions, as seen in this case. If you or a loved one has been the victim of negligence, contact the legal professionals at Gilman & Bedigian today.