DW: And I thought hospitals just cost an arm and a leg...
A Georgia man is suing an Atlanta hospital for losing a 28-square-inch piece of his skull after his surgery and then charging him for a synthetic replacement. Fernando Cluster went to Emory University Hospital Midtown in September 2022 for a procedure to remove part of his skull to ease pressure from a brain bleed. When he returned for his follow-up surgery, the hospital couldn't find his piece of skull among all the other unmarked bone fragments they had.
"We inspected the freezer where bone flaps are stored and could not find a bone flap with Mr. Cluster’s patient identification," the hospital stated. Left with a hole in his skull, Cluster had to wait while the hospital made a synthetic replacement, costing him over $19,000.
Cluster later developed an infection from the synthetic bone, requiring further surgery and leaving him unable to work. His total medical bill amounted to $146,800, with no discounts offered by the hospital. Cluster and his wife are now seeking compensation for medical and emotional damages.
Source: NY Post