Dr. William Hellenbrand

This is an appeal from a medical negligence judgment.

The appellants, two doctors, challenged the trial judge's findings on standard of care and causation after Ms. Stevenhaagen suffered severe neurological injuries following an angioplasty procedure and subsequent aortic rupture.

The trial judge found the doctors liable for failing to consult a cardiovascular surgeon promptly and for transferring the patient to the Coronary Care Unit instead of directly to the operating room after temporary stabilization.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, upholding the trial judge's conclusions that the standard of care was breached and that this breach caused Ms. Stevenhaagen's injuries, applying the 'but for' test for causation.

The plaintiffs brought a medical malpractice action following a balloon angioplasty procedure that resulted in a ruptured thoracic aorta.

The patient survived but suffered paraplegia and cognitive deficits, eventually passing away years later.

The court found that the interventional cardiologist and vascular surgeon breached the standard of care by failing to consult with a cardiac surgeon and by transferring the patient to the coronary care unit instead of directly to the operating room after an interim endovascular repair.

The court concluded that this delay in obtaining open cardiac surgery caused the patient's neurological injuries.

Judgment was granted for the plaintiffs for an agreed-upon amount of damages.