In a gripping legal battle that could reshape medical accountability, a Pennsylvania couple has filed a lawsuit against a major healthcare provider. The plaintiffs, Colleen and Thomas Shoeman, have taken their grievances to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County on October 5, 2023, accusing UPMC Altoona and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) of professional negligence leading to severe personal injuries.
The complaint, spearheaded by Colleen Shoeman with her husband Thomas as co-plaintiff, outlines a harrowing ordeal following what began as a routine hospital visit. On October 19, 2022, Colleen Shoeman suffered a fall at home and was diagnosed with non-displaced fractures in her right tibia and fibula at UPMC Altoona's Emergency Department. Despite initial treatment plans for non-surgical management due to the fractures being non-displaced, complications arose during her hospital stay from October 19 to October 24. According to the lawsuit, negligent handling by hospital staff led to further displacement and angulation of the fracture. "Manipulation of the splints...and repeat x-rays shows new findings," reads an entry from October 24 in the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges that these actions resulted in an escalation from conservative treatment to invasive surgeries. Over the following months, Colleen endured multiple operations including open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), which later led to severe infections necessitating additional surgeries and ultimately culminating in an above-the-knee amputation of her right leg in August 2024. The plaintiffs assert that these outcomes were preventable had proper care been administered initially.
Central to their claims are accusations against UPMC Altoona and UPMC for failing to maintain adequate standards of care through their employees' actions or omissions. The complaint cites violations under theories such as respondeat superior—holding employers liable for employees' actions—and corporate negligence under Pennsylvania case law precedents like Thompson v. Nason Hospital.
The Shoemans are seeking compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 for each count alongside punitive damages aimed at deterring future negligence. They claim losses spanning physical pain, emotional distress, loss of consortium for Thomas Shoeman due to changes in marital relations post-injury, and financial burdens related to ongoing medical care.
Representing them is Leon Aussprung MD Esq., whose Philadelphia-based firm specializes in medical malpractice cases. The presiding judge over this matter is yet unnamed but will be crucial in determining whether UPMC's practices align with acceptable medical standards or if they indeed breached their duty towards patient safety. Case ID: CVPDD008S215F076