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Plastic Surgeon Sued Over Patient's Death

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By TODD RUGER / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Published: October 12, 2007

A Sarasota man whose wife died the day after she had liposuction, a face-lift and silicone injections is suing the plastic surgeon.

Laurie E. Wilson, 56, was dizzy and sick to her stomach the day after her surgery in January 2006, when she was headed to her postoperative appointment, the lawsuit states.

During that appointment, she reported chest pain and shortness of breath. She then went to Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. She died that day from a blood clot that traveled from her leg to her lungs, David Wilson's lawsuit states.

The Sarasota County lawsuit names the surgeon, John Leikensohn, and the Plastic Surgery Center in Sarasota.

Leikensohn has no history of disciplinary action and no liability claims in the past 10 years, state records show.

Laurie Wilson, who was an emergency room nurse, was known to have a high risk of such a pulmonary embolism, the lawsuit states, adding that Leikensohn and postsurgery nurses could have prevented it with leg massages and exercises.

"It's all about getting the patient up or massaging the legs, both by order of the doctor and nursing protocol," said David Wilson's attorney, Mel Wright.

Laurie Wilson had liposuction of the abdomen, thighs, hips and knees, the lawsuit states.

Lou LaCava of Tampa, Leikensohn's attorney, said Wilson's treatment was appropriate and that the doctor informed her there were health risks, as with any surgery.

"Whether a surgery is medically necessary, whether it's cosmetic, it's still a surgery," LaCava said. "All of the complications are there, even if you're a healthy individual."

David Wilson also is suing Approved Home Health Inc., which provided postoperative care and nursing services outside the surgical center.

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