EP 170: $15.1 Million Medical Malpractice Verdict!

Nurse Erica welcomes Connecticut attorney and state representative Matt Blumenthal to discuss the medical malpractice case of Ludmilla Pyleva, who lost her vision after chlorhexidine-based surgical prep allegedly entered her eye during brain surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital. The patient, already functionally blind in her left eye, woke from brain surgery with profound vision loss in her right eye. He explains how the medical negligence case was investigated and tried, why a jury awarded $15.1 million, and what the case may teach hospitals about eye protection, safety protocols, and patient advocacy. The discussion raises concerns about the absence of written protocols and an internal root-cause analysis or morbidity-and-mortality review. Advertise on the show! Email with the subject NURSES UNCORKED SPONSOR to: nursesuncorked@gmail.com Become a Patron! Gain early access to episodes, ad-free episodes, exclusive bonus content, giveaways, Zoom parties, shout-outs, and much more. https://patron.podbean.com/nursesunco... ETSY Shop:  Stop Healthcare Worker Violence! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheNurseErica Guest: Matthew Blumenthal: www.koskoff.com/attorney/matt-blumenthal/ facebook.com/Koskoff-Koskoff-Bieder instagram.com/mattblumenthalct tiktok.com/@mattblumenthalct facebook.com/MattBlumenthalCT x.com/Matt_Blumenthal Chapters: 00:00 Opening, patron shout-out & guest Matt Blumenthal intro 05:20 Lioudmila Pyleva's life and independence before surgery 09:10 The first signs of a chemical eye injury 12:09 Which antiseptics were used and how the injury may have happened 18:57 The missed inspections and evidence of chlorhexidine exposure 21:50 Drying time, fire risk, and protecting eyes during prep 25:10 How pre-existing vision loss shaped the damages case 28:35 Who handled the prep and what witnesses told the jury 34:31 Post-surgery care, delayed irrigation, and missing hospital policies 37:45 Why chlorhexidine was used instead of Betadine 39:47 The hospital's response and the absence of a root-cause review 43:15 Why the case took years and the rejected $3 million settlement 47:31 The $15.1 million verdict and what it meant to the family 52:47 Patient advocacy before surgery 56:44 Where to find Matt Blumenthal and closing thoughts Help the podcast grow by giving episodes a like, download, follow and a 5 ️ star rating! Please follow Nurses Uncorked at: tiktok.com/nurses-uncorked    / @nursesuncorkedl   You can listen to the podcast at: podcasts.apple/nursesuncorked spotify.com/nursesuncorked podbean.com/nursesuncorked iheart.com/nurses-uncorked Follow Nurse Erica:  @TheNurseErica on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube:    / @thenurseerica9094     / the.nurse.erica   DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content published or distributed by or on behalf of Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked Podcast is for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions expressed or contained herein are not intended to serve as legal advice, or replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury, and you should consult your health care professional regarding all matters concerning your health, including before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment. If you have pending legal issues, please consult an attorney. Episodes may contain speculation, theories, opinions, and unverified claims that have not been established as fact. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research. Nothing should be construed as guilt and no conclusions regarding criminal liability should be drawn solely from this podcast alone. The views and opinions expressed on Nurses Uncorked do not reflect the views of our employers, professional organizations or affiliates. Any information or opinions provided by guests, experts or hosts featured within website or on Nurses Uncorked Podcast are their own; not those of Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked LLC. Accordingly, Nurse Erica and Nurses Uncorked cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. All content is the sole property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC. All copyrights are reserved and the exclusive property of Nurses Uncorked, LLC