Kaiser Left Catheter Parts in Chest, Woman Says
5-21-2013 07:16:00


SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (CN) - When Kaiser doctors removed a medi-port catheter from a woman's chest, they left catheter parts in her chest cavity, she claims in a complaint filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Sally Tetzlaff sued Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, and Southern California Permanente Medical Group for medical malpractice, seeking general damages, past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and costs of suit.

Tetzlaff had gone to Kaiser for removal of a medi-port catheter, the complaint says.

However, Kaiser "negligently, carelessly and unskillfully selected various hospitals and physicians and other health care providers, and negligently examined, treated, cared for, diagnosed, operated upon, attended and otherwise handled and controlled the plaintiff," causing injuries.

Kasier did not completely remove the catheter, leaving parts in Tetzlaff's chest, and failed "to discover and treat and care for plaintiff from the [medical problems caused by leaving] the remaining catheter parts, migrating remnants, and foreign bodies left in her chest cavity, and elsewhere." the complaint says.

May 18, 2012 plaintiff first discovered her injuries and the negligent cause of her injuries.
Defendants Kaiser Foundation Hospital failed and neglected to adequately select a competent medical staff and to periodically review the competency of its medical staff, and failed to adequately monitor its staff.

Bruce G. Fagel of Beverly Hills represents the plaintiff. CIVDS1304801