BALTIMORE, Md. – A Baltimore city jury has awarded an $8.3 million verdict to the family of a man who died due to complications from surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2019. The verdict, delivered after an eight-day trial that concluded last month, holds the physicians and medical center accountable for the man’s death.
The case centers around the death of Zesis Karavas, a 53-year-old man who underwent surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center on May 29, 2019. Dr. Talal Al-Qaoud and Dr. Naeem Goussous were the physicians who performed the surgery, according to the complaint. Karavas suffered an accidental bowel perforation during the procedure, which went unrecognized by the doctors at the time.
Representing Karavas’ family, Emily “E.J.” Hammann, a partner at Brown & Barron LLC, expressed her gratitude for the jury’s attentiveness to the evidence and their holding of the defendants accountable. She also acknowledged that, while nothing can bring Mr. Karavas back, the family can now find some closure by knowing the truth about what happened.
The jury delivered a verdict of $6 million for wrongful death and an additional $2.3 million for the survival action, resulting in a total sum of about $8.3 million. However, due to Maryland’s cap on noneconomic damages, the award will be reduced to around $1.3 million.
In response to the verdict, a spokesperson for the University of Maryland Medical Center emphasized the institution’s commitment to providing compassionate and respectful treatment to every patient. Tiffani Washington, the director of media relations, expressed understanding towards the Karavas family’s tragic loss and acknowledged the emotional impact of the case. She maintained that the medical center stands by the care provided by their dedicated physicians and healthcare team.
The doctors and the medical center were represented in the case by John R. Fischel of Brady Fischel & Daily LLC. According to the complaint, Karavas’ surgery to remove his left kidney, initially a laparoscopic procedure, was converted to an open surgery. His colon was perforated during the surgery, but the injury went unnoticed by the physicians at the time. A second surgery was conducted the following day to explore the cause, during which a 1-centimeter hole in his colon was discovered.
Karavas remained hospitalized until his death on July 22, 2019. His medical records documented the perforated colon and multiple system organ failure. He is survived by his wife, adult son, and parents.
This verdict serves as a reminder of the importance of careful and attentive medical care, highlighting the consequences when errors occur during surgical procedures. The outcome of this case aims to provide the Karavas family some sense of closure in the wake of their loved one’s tragic death.