Laparoscopy leads to sepsis, peritonitis, death

Queens County (NY) Supreme Court

A woman under went laparoscopic surgery to determine the cause of her infertility. Some time later, she suffered sepsis and peritonitis that resulted in her death.

In suing, the decedent’s family claimed the physician perforated the woman’s sigmoid colon during the procedure. They further alleged that the patient should not have had laparoscopic surgery.

The physician argued that the procedure was indicated, and that perforations of this kind are known complications of the procedure.

• The case settled for $1 million.