A $5.5 million settlement was approved in a Medical Malpractice and wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a Charleston woman who bled to death after a liver surgery.

The lawsuit was filed in 2014 in Sangamon County, Illinois against Dr. Sabha Ganai, the surgeon who performed the procedure. Her employer, Southern Illinois University Physicians and Surgeons, as well as surgical device manufacturer Covidien were also named as defendants.

April Strange underwent elective surgery at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, in October 2013 for the removal of a non-cancerous growth on her liver. She was 33 years old at the time.

The Lawsuit Accused Ganai of committing a surgical error that led to Strange’s death. Ganai used a Covidien surgical stapler during the operation and allegedly failed to properly seal a blood vessel that was cut. The surgical complication occurred while Strange was under anesthesia. She bled to death following cardiac arrest linked to the blood loss.

The lawsuit accused Ganai of using the stapler improperly, failing to stop the bleeding and being slow in calling for help. Ganai claimed that the stapler malfunctioned, which caused the bleeding. She also said that she had informed Strange about the risks associated with the surgery beforehand.

The settlement avoided the need for a jury trial. However, the defendants approved it without admitting liability. The payment will go to Strange’s husband and two daughters.

The case highlights the devastation that injuries and deaths caused by medical malpractice can result in, especially because they are preventable. If you or a loved one has been harmed by the carelessness of a medical professional, you may be able to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Contact the attorneys at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg to learn more.