Dr. SANDRA E STEVENS, MD Medical Malpractice Cases, Lawsuits, and Complaints

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Phycicians Practice Address

Dr. SANDRA E STEVENS, MD

701 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway

Cocoa Beach, FL

32931

Brevard

Court Case # 05-2010-CA-009339

Indemnity Paid: $200,000.00

Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Department File Number :	M201366043
Claim Number :	10-005-AB-000391
Date Submitted :	2/14/2013

Insurer Information

Insurer Name				Coverage Type
HEALTH CARE CASUALTY RISK RETENTION GROUP				Primary
Insurer FEIN		Professional License Number
20-1994595
Insurer Contact Information
Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	Amber			Basra
Street Address
8725 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 810
City				State	Zip
Chicago				IL	60631
Phone	Ext	Fax	E-Mail Address
(773) 864 - 8291		(773) 864 - 8281	abasra@claritygrp.com

Insured Information

Type	First Name		MI	Last Name
Individual	Sandra		E	Stevens
Insurer Type		Street Address of Practice
Licensed		701 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway
City		State	Zip Code	County
Cocoa Beach		FL	32931	Brevard
Policy Number		Per Claim Policy Limits		Aggregate Policy Limits
10-PA-005-AB		$250,000		$750,000
Profession or Business			Other Profession or Business
Medical Doctor
License Number		Specialty Code & Classification		Certification Number
ME86879		Anesthesiology

Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Injured Person Information

First Name	MI	Last Name		Date of Birth

Street Address			Gender	County where Injury Occurred
			M	Brevard
City			State	Zip Code

Location where injury occured		Other location where injury occured
Hospital Inpatient Facility
Name of Institution		Code
CAPE CANAVERAL HOSPITAL		100177
Location of Institutional Injury		Other Location of Institutional Injury
Operating Suite
Date of Occurrence		Date Reported to Insurer
11/25/2008		5/24/2010

Diagnostic Information

Final Diagnosis For Which Treatment Was Sought Including Patient's Actual Condition
Spinal infection status post anterior cervical discectomy and fusion of c4-5 and c5-6
Operation, Diagnostic, Or Treatment Procedure Rendered Causing The Injury
The patient underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion of C4-5 and C5-6 on November 11, 2008.The patient returned to the surgeons office for follow-up care and was noted to have an infection at the surgical site. He had IV antibiotic therapy, however the treatment was ineffective. The patient underwent an incision and drainage procedure on November 21, 2008.The infection remained unresolved, so the patient was returned to the operating room on an urgent basis on the evening of November 25, 2008 for a repeat incision and drainage.Dr. Stevens was the anesthesiologist present for this relatively short, i.e. 40 minute, procedure.The patients blood pressure remained stable and within normal limits at all times during the procedure.The patient appeared to tolerate the procedure well and was transferred to the hospitals PACU for further evaluation.Upon arrival at the PACU, it determined that the patient was hypotensive. Dr. Stevens immediately initiated fluid therapy titrated multiple doses of Phenylephrine.After approximately 30 minutes, the patients blood pressure normalized and remained stable throughout the remainder of his PACU stay.However, the patient, upon awakening, began complaining of an inability to move his arms and legs.Dr. Stevens sought immediate consultation with the patients surgeon, as well as a consulting neurosurgeon, in light of these complaints.
Diagnostic Code :		E8769
Misdiagnosis Made, If Any, Of Patient's Actual Condition
*NR
Principal Injury Giving Rise To The Claim
Quadraplegia
Severity Of Injury
Permanent: Grave - Quadraplegia, severe brain damage, lifelong care or fatal prognosis.

Medical Malpractice Closed Claims Report

Legal Information

Date of Suit			Circuit Court Case Number
12/10/2010			05-2010-CA-009339
County Suit Filed in			Date of Final Disposition
Brevard			10/30/2012
Other Defendants Involved in this Claim
Health First Physicians, Inc. Cape Canaveral Hospital/Health First
Stage of Legal System at which Settlement was Reached or Award Made
More than 90 days, after suit filed and prior to or during the course of mandatory settlement conference.
Final Method of Claim Disposition
Settled by parties
Court Decision			Other
No Court Proceedings.
Arbitration
Claim not subject to Arbitration.
Date of Payment
12/13/2012

Financial Information

Was there a settlement Resulting in payment to the Plaintiff?

Yes

Indemnity Paid by Insurer on behalf of Insured

$200,000

Loss Adjust Expense Paid to Defense Counsel

$139,449

All Other Loss Adjustment Expense Paid

Injured Person's Total Non-Economic Loss

Deductible

$50,000

Injured Person's Total Economic Loss

	Incurred to Date	Anticipated
Medical Expense	$0	$0
Wage Loss	$0	$0
Other Expenses	$0	$0

Safety Management Steps Taken by Insured to Make Similar Occurrence Less Likely

It was believed the plaintiff suffered from a spinal infarct , not related to the hypotension.At the time of the second I & Dof the spinal infection,the plaintiff suffered an acute spinal cord injury and the BP was refractory to the injury, i.e., "spinal shock".In this particular situation the event could not be anticipated or prevented with remedial measures.

Updates

No updates found.

*NR:Prior to 04/28/1999 this field was not required in submitted claims.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dr. SANDRA E STEVENS, MD have any medical malpractice cases, lawsuits, or complaints?

Dr. SANDRA E STEVENS, MD has at least 1 medical malpractice case(s), lawsuit(s), or complaint(s).