SCRANTON – A Gouldsboro couple claims Geisinger Community Medical Center and one of its doctors were negligent in failing to properly perform a hip surgery, which led to medical complications for one of the plaintiffs afterwards and a subsequent second surgery.
Teresa Matheson and John Matheson filed suit in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas on July 6 versus Dr. Gregory Thomas and Geisinger Community Medical Center, both of Scranton.
Following a fall in her home and a hip fracture, Teresa had an ORIF (open reduction-internal fixation) surgery of her right hip on Jan. 3, 2015, performed by Dr. Eugene Chiavacci. Three months later, she came under Dr. Thomas’s care due to pain in said hip, and a later x-ray showed a screw inserted during the original procedure had moved.
In May 2015, Teresa had that same screw removed from her hip by Dr. Thomas. A later x-ray in September 2015 showed Teresa’s hip was stable, but one performed in November revealed signs quadriceps atrophy and avascular necrosis. But according to the lawsuit, Dr. Thomas allegedly told her she was healed.
The following February, suffering from a limp, snapping sensation in her right hip and sciatic numbness, Dr. Thomas finally diagnosed Teresa with avascular necrosis of the right femoral head. Dr. Thomas allegedly again told her she was healed and to return to his office in six months.
However, Teresa instead sought the consultation of Dr. Christopher Samujh, who performed a total hip replacement on the plaintiff, on April 8, 2016.
For charges of negligence and loss of consortium against both Dr. Thomas and Geisinger Community Medical Center, the plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus interests and costs of suit in this matter.
The plaintiffs are represented by James J. Conaboy of Abrahamsen Conaboy & Abrahamsen, in Scranton.
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas case 2017-CV-2730
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com