A man who went into hospital for a routine kidney stone removal procedure and left with all four of his limbs amputated has sued the hospital for alleged mismanagement of his care.
Chad Gerlaugh, 46, was admitted to the hospital in April 2019 and the operation reportedly went smoothly, with doctors inserting a tube into his urethra to facilitate the removal of the stone and urine. However, days later, Gerlaugh’s blood pressure plummeted and his heart ceased beating for several minutes.
It was discovered that he had contracted an infection post-surgery, which led to sepsis, a condition causing organ failure. Gerlaugh was administered potent antibiotics and a vasopressor drug to combat his low blood pressure, which caused his blood vessels to constrict.
The medication redirected blood from his limbs to his vital organs, resulting in his arms and legs turning black due to lack of blood flow over the subsequent days. As a result of the sepsis he had to undergo the amputation of both legs above the knee and both arms below the elbow.
Before the infection took hold Gerlaugh had been wheelchair-bound since 1998 after a car accident resulted in spinal damage and limited arm mobility. Despite being confined to a wheelchair he had maintained a degree of independence, working as a technical support staff for Spectrum, reports the Mirror US.
But since the amputations, he now depends heavily on his loved ones for almost all aspects of daily living—from bathing and eating to using the bathroom. In a family video shared by Tampa Bay Times, he said: “My life is never going to be the same, I gotta ask for help. For everything.”
The situation appears bleak regarding prosthetics, with lawyers involved in the case suggesting there might not be enough of his limbs remaining to attach these aides. A lawsuit was brought against Morton Plant Hospital by his legal representatives, accusing them of mismanaging their client’s care, and alleging this oversight led to the need for such extreme measures.
Although the case was settled outside court for an undisclosed sum, the details remain guarded. BayCare, which oversees the hospital in question, stated that Morton Plant Hospital earnestly strives “To maintaining the highest standards of patient care possible.”
They assure that safety is paramount, adding: “Our team makes patient safety a top priority and has carefully reviewed this patient’s journey to find any opportunities to learn from his experience,” rounding off their statement with a commitment to learning and improvement following the distressing ordeal.
