Medical Malpractice
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May 18th, 2004

"Manhattan Hospital Fined for Cosmetic Surgery Deaths"

The Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital was fined $20,000 by state health officials after an investigation into two recent deaths of cosmetic surgery patients. Both women, one of whom was the author Olivia Goldsmith, were reported by the hospital to have had fatal reactions to anesthesia.

State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello said "egregious violations" at the hospital led to a breakdown in patient care in the anesthesia and cosmetic surgery departments. Ten separate violations were identified by investigators, each carrying a maximum fine of $2,000.

"These egregious violations will require the full and immediate attention of the hospital to assure that they are never repeated," stated Commissioner Novello.

Health investigators found that the hospital, located on the Upper East Side, "failed to conduct basic, pre-operative assessments, failed to adequately monitor changes in the patients'' vital signs and failed to effectively respond to the adverse incidents>"

Commissioner Novello stated on Friday that "patients who are administered anesthesia during any surgical procedure require close monitoring-a universally accepted standard of care that the hospital did not meet in these cases."

The hospital defended its record in a written statement. "Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital''s cosmetic surgeons and physicians are among the most highly regarded, nationally ranked professionals in their field, and over the past ten years, have performed more than 130,000 surgical procedures with excellent outcomes," the statement said.

In addition to the $20,000 fine, the hospital will be required to take certain actions, like hiring an outside consultant to conduct a comprehensive review of its anesthesia department, state health officials said. The review must include an analysis of procedures for administering anesthetics and monitoring anesthetized patients. The hospital has until May 28 to submit a detailed, written plan of correction covering the specific violations cited by health officials and addressing the long-range issues for monitoring the effectiveness of its health care.