Improperly Placed Central Line Leads to Amputation: $3.2 Million Settlement
2025 Medical Malpractice Settlement Report
By Robert M. Higgins, attorney for the plaintiff
Lawsuit claims ER doctor was negligent in placing central line into femoral artery leading to amputation of leg
Case summary
On 7/9/15, the plaintiff – a severely developmentally delayed young man - was found at home by his mother unresponsive. He was immediately taken to the emergency room at a local hospital. Once there he was stabilized and admitted to the ICU. A femoral line was placed by the defendant ER. However, instead of placing the line into the right femoral vein it was negligently placed into the right femoral artery.
Throughout the day he received numerous medications through his central line. By late afternoon the defendant ICU nurse noted a change in his right leg on exam. His pulses began to be decreased. She told nobody. Two hours later his right leg was noted to be cool to touch with decreased pulses. The defendant nurse told nobody. Two hours later his leg was noted to be cold and pale with decreased pulses. Finally, a doctor was notified of the changes. He immediately recognized the central line was in the wrong place and removed it. The plaintiff was then transferred that evening to a large Boston hospital for treatment of his leg.
Once he arrived at the Boston hospital, he was diagnosed with compartment syndrome of the leg. He had emergent surgery in an attempt to remove dead muscle and hopefully salvage his leg. Unfortunately, the tissue did not respond and more of the tissue became necrotic. The only option left was an above the knee amputation.
The plaintiff retained several experts in the case. It was their opinion that the defendant emergency medicine doctor was negligent in placing the central line in the artery. Had she not done that the plaintiff would not have lost his leg. The experts were also critical of the ICU nurses who failed to report the change in condition of his right leg. That should have prompted removal of the central line and he would not have lost his leg.
The case settled for $3,200,000 a few weeks prior to the start of trial.
Lubin & Meyer attorneys Robert M. Higgins and Andrew C. Meyer, Jr. represented the plaintiff in this lawsuit.
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