A jury has awarded $20.6 million to former Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, finding orthopedic surgeon Richard Edelson, MD, violated his duty of care during a 2018 surgery that ended Mr. Gleeson’s professional career, Fox 12 reported March 28.
What happened?
- Mr. Gleeson developed shin pain in Summer 2018 and was diagnosed with stress fractures in both legs. He underwent surgery to have metal plates implanted in his shinbones.
- According to the lawsuit, Dr. Edelson — one of the team’s physicians — discovered a plate was missing mid-surgery and retrieved a replacement from an outside facility. The implant was flash sterilized before being used. The suit claims the plate was improperly sterilized, leading to an infection in Mr. Gleeson’s right tibia and ultimately 14 additional surgeries after infections spread to both legs.
- Dr. Edelson testified he had not previously used steam sterilization, but said the case, performed at Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center in Tualatin, was an emergency. His defense argued that steam-sterilized implants had tested clean.
- Mr. Gleeson reached earlier settlements with two other defendants, including the ASC where Dr. Edelson holds partial ownership.
- The jury delivered its verdict after a three-week civil trial.
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