Bethke v. Gammon

GARRARD, Judge.

This is a medical malpractice action to recover for injuries by plaintiff and her decedent as the result of an intubation procedure performed on Mr. Bethke on December 17, 1985. The defendant physician, a specialist in pulmonary medicine, encountered difficulties in completing the intubation that resulted in the procedure taking approximately 13 to 14 minutes to complete. During the procedure Mr. Bethke suffered a respiratory and a cardiac arrest. Although he was revived he allegedly suffered brain damage which ultimately led to his death.

A medical review panel determined that…