A tragic case of alleged medical negligence has surfaced, involving the death of an 81-year-old woman following a cardiac procedure. The family of the deceased has filed a lawsuit against multiple healthcare providers and institutions, claiming gross negligence and seeking over $1 million in damages. The complaint was filed by Voy Lee Andrews, Wesley Todd Andrews, and Merle S. Baker in the District Court of Harris County on July 31, 2024, naming Edward William Leahey MD, Edward W. Leahey M.D., P.A., Aditya Uppalapati MD, and San Jacinto Methodist Hospital DBA Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital as defendants.
The plaintiffs allege that Joanne Baker underwent a left-sided cardiac catheterization on January 24, 2024, at Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital. Dr. Edward Leahey performed this procedure but also conducted an unconsented right-sided catheterization using a pulmonary artery catheter. According to the complaint, Dr. Leahey inflated the balloon at the end of the catheter twice without proper documentation or consent for this additional procedure. The second inflation allegedly caused a rupture in Joanne Baker's pulmonary artery, leading to severe hemorrhage that filled her right thorax with blood.
The plaintiffs claim that Dr. Leahey failed to obtain informed consent for the right-sided catheterization and did not adhere to proper placement parameters during the procedure. They argue that these actions were negligent and directly led to Joanne Baker's death. Additionally, they accuse Dr. Aditya Uppalapati of exacerbating the situation by improperly placing a chest tube that allowed more blood to accumulate instead of tamponading it off until surgical repair could be performed.
Furthermore, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital is accused of failing to ensure informed consent was obtained before procedures and not adequately training or supervising its staff. The plaintiffs argue that these failures contributed significantly to Joanne Baker's untimely death.
The lawsuit outlines several causes of action against each defendant, including negligence and vicarious liability for their employees' actions under the theory of respondeat superior or apparent agency. The plaintiffs seek monetary relief exceeding $1 million for physical pain and suffering endured by Joanne Baker before her death, medical expenses incurred during her treatment, funeral costs, and punitive damages aimed at deterring similar conduct in the future.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys from Wormington & Bollinger—Marilyn Burgess as District Clerk Harris County—with Judge Bernitta Barrett presiding over Case ID: 2024-48297.