Osborn Machler: Botched spinal surgery victim sues health care providers, doctor

SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A longtime Wenatchee healthcare executive filed a lawsuit this week against a central Washington hospital and a physician who botched his spinal surgery, leaving him crippled, and in constant, debilitating pain.

Randy W. Cooper, 60, filed the lawsuit yesterday in the Superior Court of Washington in King County, alleging that Confluence Health, Central Washington Hospital, Wenatchee Valley Medical Group and surgeon Dr. Gus Varnavas all contributed to a series of preventable medical errors that cost Cooper the ability to do even the most modest physical activities.

In December 2014, Varnavas performed what was considered a routine procedure to place an artificial disc in Cooper's neck. According to attorney Sim Osborn, Varnavas claimed that he inadvertently had nicked the dura – the outside membrane of the spinal cord – when in fact his scalpel actually cut into Cooper's spinal cord.

According to Osborn, Varnavas compounded the error by abandoning the placement of the artificial disc and instead performing a disc fusion after piercing the dura and cutting the spinal cord. 

According to Osborn, had Varnavas acknowledged the cut to the spinal cord, medical professionals could have treated the condition differently.

"The reality in Randy W. Cooper's case is that Varnavas' medical error in slicing the spinal cord, and his failure to recognize or disclose the error, has robbed Randy W. Cooper of many aspects of life that we all take for granted."

Osborn says Cooper's spinal injury gives him unceasing pain, managed through constant medication. A former avid golfer, Cooper is only able to sit or stand for short periods of time.

"By any measure, the health systems and Varnavas have fallen well short of providing Randy W. Cooper a reasonable standard of care, which has cost Randy dearly," Osborn added.

"For Randy, nothing will be able to reverse the tragic effects of this catastrophic medical error," Osborn said. "But the steps we are taking today will help ensure that no others will have the same devastating experience."

About Osborn Machler
The attorneys at Osborn Machler represent plaintiffs in personal injury, products liability, and professional malpractice cases. Osborn Machler is noted for taking difficult cases and successfully taking them to settlement or trial. The firm has extensive experience representing injured persons against federal, state, and local governments. You can learn more about the firm, its cases and expertise at www.osbornmachler.com.

CONTACT:
Simeon Osborn (206) 441-4110
Osborn Machler
[email protected]

SOURCE Osborn Machler

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