Upside-Down Heart Valve Leads to $17M Lawsuit

A family in Oregon has filed a lawsuit against a Portland hospital, claiming medical staff told them their 13-year-old daughter was dying when her condition was treatable. The lawsuit alleges that during open-heart surgery at Oregon Health and Science University last August, doctors implanted a heart valve incorrectly.

Following the procedure, the girl required ECMO, a life support system, as her heart could not be restarted. The lawsuit states that hospital staff discussed end-of-life care, including organ donation, with the parents. They were allegedly informed their daughter needed an artificial heart or transplant, but these procedures were only available out-of-state.

Despite warnings she might not survive the transfer, her parents moved her to Seattle Children's Hospital. There, doctors discovered and successfully replaced the improperly installed heart valve, allowing her heart to function adequately and enabling her to recover from ECMO.

While the girl is recovering, the family claims she sustained permanent physical and emotional injuries. Her parents also report enduring emotional trauma. The lawsuit seeks $17 million in damages, though the hospital's liability may be capped at $5.275 million. Oregon Health and Science University declined to comment on the pending litigation.