A lawsuit against Griffin Hospital filed Tuesday in Superior Court in New Haven alleges that a Wallingford woman lost all four of her limbs as a result of medical malpractice by doctors who delayed treating her sepsis infection.
Wallingford resident Carol Proto, who was in good overall health, entered Griffin Hospital in April 2021 for routine diverticulitis surgery and expected to return home after two days, according to the suit.
However, while in the hospital she contracted sepsis, a life-threatening complication. The suit says medical staff ignored Proto’s vital sign fluctuations, even as her daughters – who work in the medical field – alerted them that something seemed to be wrong.
Following the surgery, Proto required supplemental oxygen to breathe. She continued to struggle with blood oxygenation and her blood pressure fluctuated, according to the complaint.
A day later, Proto displayed signs of sepsis, but hospital staff did not flag them as a concern. She also experienced worsening confusion, a sign that not enough oxygen was getting to her brain, the lawsuit says.
Proto spent more than 10 months in recovery. Her left leg had to be amputated below her knee, and her right foot was amputated at the metatarsals.
The suit claims Griffin has an “abysmal” record on sepsis management, citing data from Medicare that shows 62% of patients said they received “inappropriate care” for severe sepsis and septic shock.
Reached for comment Wednesday, Griffin Hospital said, “In accordance with hospital policy, we respectfully decline to comment on any pending or ongoing litigation.”
Proto is represented by Jeffrey Wisner and Kathleen Nastri of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder in Bridgeport.
