Medical malpractice – esophageal perforation during surgery

During biopsy of a lymph node to evaluate for lymphoma, a cardiothoracic surgeon perforated the esophagus of a patient. The esophageal perforation was not diagnosed immediately or for several days after the patient was discharged, despite the presence of symptoms prior to discharge and the patient calling the doctor’s office and complaining of unusual problems two days later. Case was settled prior to trial for $200,000.