A jury awarded $15 million to the family of Byung “Ben” Oh, a 77-year-old patient who died at a hospital operated by Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System after complications from spine surgery in 2018.
The Fulton County State Court jury awarded $13 million for the full value of Mr. Oh’s life and $2 million for his conscious pain and suffering, according to an Aug. 13 news release from Bell Law Firm, which represented his family.
Mr. Oh was admitted to Wellstar’s Atlanta Medical Center on April 30, 2018, and underwent spine surgery to treat a fractured bone in his back on May 4, 2018. The family alleged that a Wellstar surgeon improperly placed a suprapubic catheter outside Mr. Oh’s bladder, draining and worsening a chyle leak.
The family also alleged that the surgeon failed to adequately investigate the nature and cause of the ongoing fluid loss or ensure it was appropriately addressed as Mr. Oh’s condition deteriorated. Mr. Oh developed septic shock and multiorgan failure and died July 21, 2018, according to the release.
In a statement to Becker’s, Wellstar stood by the health system’s protocols for investigating patient deaths and extended its condolences.
“We believe every person should receive the highest quality of clinical care and patient experience, every time. Our internal investigation found that the care team followed the appropriate protocols and correctly implemented the prescribed procedures when this medically complicated case occurred in 2018. We were saddened to learn of the passing of the patient after he left our care, and we continue to extend our condolences to his family.”
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