A Florida man, Chad Gerlaugh, recently settled a lawsuit after losing all four of his limbs following a medical procedure in 2019, according to court records.
A Life Changed by Medical Negligence
Gerlaugh had been living with a spinal cord injury for over 20 years after a crash left him a quadriplegic. Despite his condition, he lived an active life, hunting with his father using a modified bow and rifle and working in technical support for Spectrum.
However, in 2019, he developed a kidney stone and went to Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater for surgery to have it removed.
Surgery Complications Lead to Tragedy
While recovering from the procedure, Gerlaugh’s blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels. It was later discovered that he had an undiagnosed infection, which turned into sepsis—a life-threatening condition.
According to the lawsuit, Dr. Sherman, the doctor overseeing his surgery, did not perform essential tests like a urinalysis to check for any existing infections before the procedure. This failure to diagnose and treat the infection in time led to severe complications.
As his condition worsened, Gerlaugh suffered a heart attack and developed limb ischemia—a condition where blood flow to the limbs is severely restricted. As a result, doctors had no choice but to amputate both his arms and legs.
The Lawsuit and Settlement
Gerlaugh filed a medical malpractice lawsuit in 2021 against the hospital, claiming negligence in his treatment. The case was set to go to trial in February 2024, but after years of legal battles, both sides reached an out-of-court settlement on February 5. The settlement amount was not disclosed.
This tragic case highlights the importance of proper medical care and timely diagnosis. While no amount of money can restore what Gerlaugh lost, the settlement provides some measure of justice for the suffering he endured.
