When New Jersey residents undergo surgery, they trust that their doctors have explained all the risks involved in the procedure. However, that isn’t always the case. For example, the family of late actor Bill Paxton is suing both his surgeon and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for failing to tell him enough information about the heart surgery that led to his death in 2017.
The complaint alleges that Paxton, 61, was not adequately informed of the potential risks before he underwent surgery to treat a heart valve problem and an aortic aneurysm on Feb. 14, 2017. It further alleges that the surgeon who performed the procedure was absent when the “Big Love” star began suffering complications after the surgery, which led to a deadly delay in care. The actor died 11 days after the operation. Both Cedars-Sinai and the surgeon are accused of negligence in the diagnosis, management and treatment of his case.
However, Cedars-Sinai and the surgeon deny the allegations. In a response to the lawsuit, the defendants argued that Paxton and his family were fully aware of the risks involved with the surgery. They also contended that the actor had an existing medical condition that made the surgery more dangerous for him. Paxton acted in dozens of movies and TV shows over a four-decade career, including “Terminator,” “Aliens,” “Titanic” and “Twister.” He won an Emmy for his role in the 2012 TV series “Hatfields and McCoys.”
When patients die due to the negligence of a doctor or hospital, their families have the right to sue the responsible parties for damages. An attorney familiar with medical malpractice claims could help a family gather evidence supporting a negligence claim and file the complaint in court.
Source: People, “Bill Paxton’s Surgeon and Hospital Deny Responsibility for His Death,” Mike Miller, May 3, 2018
