HARRISBURG – A Hanover couple are seeking damages after the husband was allegedly infected by a bacteria after a surgery because of the design of a medical device used.
Richard Whipkey and Elizabeth Whipkey filed a complaint on July 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania against Livanova Deutschland GMBH, formerly known as Sorin Group Deutschland GMBH, and Sorin Group USA Inc. alleging negligence - design defect and other counts.
According to the complaint, Richard Whipkey underwent an aortic valve replacement in May 2015. A year later, the suit states he began experiencing several symptoms a year and sought treatment and was diagnosed with an infection of M. Chimaera that was directly attributed to exposure during his surgery. The suit states the defendants' Sorin 3T Heater Cooler Systems were used during the surgery.
The plaintiffs hold Livanova Deutschland GMBH and Sorin Group USA, Inc. responsible because the defendants' 3T system allegedly colonized bacteria and directly transmits bacteria during patients during invasive surgery.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek compensatory and punitive damages, interest, court costs and any further relief the court grants. They are represented by Sol H. Weiss, David S. Senoff and Paola Pearson of Anapol Weiss in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania case number 1:17-cv-01233-JEJ