An orthopedic surgeon in Florida induced “hundreds of devastating injuries” whereas his hospital ignored complaints from patients for years after he began displaying indicators of a progressive neurological dysfunction, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Between 2016 and 2020, patients observed Dr. Richard David Heekin slurring his phrases and having “difficulty with balance, inability to concentrate, angry outbursts, erratic behavior, gait disturbances and impaired judgment and mood,” in line with courtroom paperwork.
Among his alleged errors made throughout surgical procedures have been bone fractures, ruptured tendons and severed nerves.
The ensuing problems have been vital, with many patients requiring revision surgical procedures, and a minimum of one complication value a affected person her life, in line with the civil complaints.
The lawsuits title Heekin, his clinic and Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, as defendants. J. Brent Allen, the lawyer for St. Vincent’s Riverside, declined to touch upon the allegations, whereas Jep Barbour, an lawyer for Heekin and Heekin Clinic, didn’t instantly reply to cellphone calls and emails from NBC News. Attempts to achieve Heekin have been unsuccessful.
Heekin was primarily performing knee and hip replacements — operations that typically don’t include a excessive charge of main problems for patients, a 2020 examine revealed within the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders discovered.
So far, 350 lawsuits have been filed, with a minimum of 100 extra anticipated by the tip of the yr, Daniel Harwin, who represents the alleged victims, advised NBC News in an unique interview.
“They had a reasonable expectation that their lives were going to be improved,” Harwin mentioned of Heekin’s patients.
One of essentially the most excessive problems cited within the courtroom paperwork occurred in Lucinda Bonk, 70, who died in September 2018 after a hip substitute that lasted longer than anticipated as a result of Heekin allegedly fractured her femur, or thigh bone, in the course of the surgical procedure.
After Heekin tried to restore the extreme fracture, Bonk’s important indicators began to decrease, Harwin mentioned; her demise certificates, which was seen by NBC News, lists problems of a femur fracture as her trigger of demise.
When Bonk first met Heekin, he had not raised any pink flags, mentioned Anthony Bonk, her husband of 42 years. Speaking to NBC News in his first public remarks about his spouse’s case, Anthony Bonk mentioned that Heekin didn’t have the friendliest bedside method, however he expressed confidence that he may repair Bonk’s hip.
The morning of her surgical procedure, Bonk felt optimistic, Anthony Bonk mentioned.
“She just wanted me to hold her hand during the surgery and after the surgery,” he mentioned. “Needless to say, I didn’t get that opportunity.”
“She just wanted me to hold her hand during the surgery and after the surgery. Needless to say, I didn’t get that opportunity.”
Anthony Bonk, Husband of lucinda bonk
Instead, Anthony Bonk mentioned he watched as workers frantically tried to resuscitate his spouse after her operation.
“It still hits me today,” he added, his voice breaking. “You don’t ever get over it.”
Among the opposite alleged victims have been patients whose surgical procedure left them with a leg that was shorter than the opposite as a result of Heekin had allegedly chosen the incorrect measurement femoral part wanted for hip substitute. Other patients had such extreme nerve harm that it resulted in everlasting “drop foot,” the paperwork say, referring to issue lifting the entrance half of the foot off the bottom.
An unusual mind dysfunction
According to the courtroom paperwork, Heekin had progressive supranuclear palsy, which the Mayo Clinic describes as an unusual mind dysfunction that causes critical issues with strolling, steadiness and eye actions, and later, with swallowing. It worsens over time.
There have been no particulars about when or if hospital officers had turn out to be conscious that Heekin may need the situation.
Several physicians and nurses voiced concern about Heekin’s capacity to follow, the courtroom paperwork say. They expressed their issues to these in administration positions at St. Vincent’s Riverside hospital, but the hospital nonetheless “forced at least one nurse who asked not to be in the room with him to continue to perform surgery with Heekin when she knew it was a risk to patient safety,” in line with courtroom information.
Through its lawyer, Ascension declined to remark.
Heekin had carried out 1000’s of profitable surgical procedures previous to 2016, the courtroom paperwork say. He ended his surgical profession in 2020, when he retired of his personal volition, Harwin mentioned.
The first trial within the case, a consolidated bellwether trial for six plaintiffs, is scheduled for August 2023, Harwin mentioned.
Anthony Bonk mentioned he hopes his spouse’s demise will pressure medical establishments to evaluation their practices.
“You trust them. That’s what they’re in business for,” he mentioned.
