Supreme Court, Queens County grants summary judgment to a vascular surgeon alleged to have caused leg amputation

Gerspach Sikoscow obtained a pre-trial dismissal of all claims against a vascular surgeon who was alleged to have negligently performed lower extremity angioplasty procedures, failed to appreciate signs of vascular compromise, and failed to arrange for a covering physician while he was away at a professional medical conference. It was alleged that these departures resulted in limb ischemia and a below the knee amputation. GS LLP, through competent expert testimony, successfully established that the angioplasty procedures were performed appropriately, and that the patient's signs and symptoms did not warrant concern for limb-threatening ischemia. We also argued that when the patient complained of worsening leg pain, the vascular surgeon appropriately referred the patient to a hospital where an "on call" vascular surgeon was available. The Court agreed with all of the arguments advanced, holding that the vascular surgeon's care was appropriate, and that plaintiffs' expert's arguments to the contrary were speculative.