The court recognized that despite the patient being Caucasian, which put him at higher risk for pulmonary embolism, the medical staff failed to conduct a thorough examination and take necessary preventive measures. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean court has ruled that a hospital must pay approximately 400 million won in compensation to the family of an American patient who died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism after being discharged following hip fracture surgery.
The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Settlement Division 15 (presided over by Judge Choi Gyu-yeon) ruled in partial favor of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed by the family of Mr. A, a 59-year-old U.S. Army civilian employee at the time of his death, against the hospital and the attending physician.
The court recognized that despite the patient being Caucasian, which put him at higher risk for pulmonary embolism, the medical staff failed to conduct a thorough examination and take necessary preventive measures.
Mr. A fractured his left hip in a bicycle accident on August 17, 2019. He underwent hip pin insertion surgery that night and was discharged six days later on August 23, as his condition was deemed satisfactory.
However, on August 27, four days after he was discharged, his condition suddenly deteriorated. He was rushed to another hospital’s emergency room but died within two and a half hours.
An autopsy by the National Forensic Service determined the cause of death as pulmonary thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism).
The Seoul Central District Court (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The family sued the hospital for a total of 1.58 billion won in damages, claiming negligence led to Mr. A’s death.
The court stated, “The medical staff’s negligence in failing to take preventive measures and fulfill their duty to provide guidance and explanation is recognized, and there is a probability that this negligence led to the death.”
The court acknowledged that the surgery Mr. A underwent was a strong risk factor for pulmonary embolism, especially considering research showing higher incidence rates among Westerners and older individuals.
The medical staff was found to have administered anticoagulants for only three days and did not implement other preventive measures such as anti-thrombotic stocking therapy.
The court also noted that given the significantly shortened hospitalization period, the medical team should have been more cautious about the risk of pulmonary embolism and provided more thorough guidance on its prevention.
“If anticoagulants had been continuously prescribed, physical prevention methods implemented, or exercise therapy guidance provided, there is a considerable possibility that pulmonary embolism would not have occurred,” the court ruled.
Based on the life expectancy of American males (82.9 years), the court calculated the damages considering Mr. A’s potential earnings and military pension until 2030 (when he would have been 70), and determined the defendants’ liability at 30% of the total amount.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
