Family of heart patient who died awarded $45M after suing health system for negligence
The family of a man who died following a heart attack has been awarded $45 million after it sued a large Florida health system for negligence.
The estate of 55-year-old James R. Sada filed the lawsuit in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, raising issues with the care he received at multiple hospitals owned and operated by Orlando Health.
The firm of Ratzan, Weissman & Boldt represented the family, highlighting more than 20 specific ways employees of Orlando Health acted with negligence. They demanded a jury trial.
Lawsuit pointed to multiple delays in care, communication errors
According to the plaintiff’s lawsuit, Sada experienced chest pain on the morning of July 26, 2020. An ambulance arrived, confirmed Sada had experienced a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and then brought him to Orlando Health-owned South Seminole Hospital. However, the hospital was not properly equipped to care for Sada; after he arrived, he then had to be transported via helicopter to a different facility owned by Orlando Health, Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Approximately one hour passed between the time Sada arrived at South Seminole Hospital and the time his helicopter departed for Orlando Regional Medical Center. Once the helicopter landed, he was taken to the hospital’s cath lab and started experiencing significant issues breathing. A respiratory therapy team was called to help, but after that group did not reply, the decision was made to intubate Saba and protect his airway. The intubation was believed to be a success, but according to the lawsuit, no ETCO2 adapter was available to help the care team confirm. The breathing tube was removed at that point and Sada’s condition “rapidly deteriorated.” He passed away approximately an hour after arriving at Orlando Regional Medical Center.
‘Putting your own network in front of patient care’
The plaintiff’s legal team argued that Sada should have never been taken to South Seminole Hospital in the first place due to its lack of proper cardiac catheterization services. Once he was there, they added, he could have been taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center by ambulance instead of helicopter, a process that resulted in a substantial delay—or they could have simply taken him to a closer facility.
Stuart Ratzan, JD, of Ratzan, Weissman & Boldt told Cardiovascular Business that one of the biggest issues with Sada’s treatment was the fact that Orlando Health seemed too focused on staying in their own network. In fact, he said, taking him by helicopter to Orlando Regional Medical Center involved “leapfrogging” over other competitor-owned facilities that were closer and could have provided more timely treatment.
“They put their own network in front of patient care,” he said.
Jury sides with patient’s family
The jury awarded the plaintiffs $45 million in damages. This included $15 million for his wife, Donna Sada, and $15 million each for his children, Blake Sada and Dade Sada.
Cardiovascular Business did reach out to Orlando Health for a comment, but the facility did not reply.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.