Retired surgeon, health system sued for $1M for alleged botched hip replacement

Orthopedic
Carly Behm -

A woman is suing a retired orthopedic surgeon and Cody (Wyo.) Regional Health after having near-fatal, long-term illness after a botched hip replacement surgery, Cody Enterprise reported Oct. 18.

Onita Gillstrap had surgery performed by Frank Schmidt, MD, in March 2019. During the procedure, an arterial vessel was lacerated, and her bleeding caused her blood pressure to drop to life-threatening levels.

She was taken to two hospitals in Montana to treat her condition. Physicians found she had a posterior wall transected right external artery and vein injury during the hip surgery as well as hematoma and a small bowel injury.

Her lawsuit for more than $1 million was filed June 14, 2021, and alleged Dr. Schmidt was negligent in his care. Dr. Schmidt submitted his response denying allegations of negligence two days later.

Dr. Schmidt no longer works with Cody Regional Health, and his medical license expired in September 2020.

Cody Regional Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Becker's. This article will be updated if the health system responds.

 

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