Aspiring anesthesiologists must first obtain a bachelor's degree before they can begin medical training. . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. An ambulance was sent and Nguyen was transported to Littleton Adventist Hospital. But in the family's lawsuit, filed Wednesday by attorney David Woodruff, the lawyer contends Nguyen was left unattended and unobserved for 15 minutes after being given anesthesia Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. by certified nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker. and our The suit accuses Dr Kim and Meeker of gross negligence. Ultimately, its up to the patient to consent to the anesthesia provider. We represented Jerry Summers, who was rendered quadriplegic from operating room and post-operative care of Christopher Duntsch, MD, a/k/a Dr. Death. "In the context of surgery and anesthesia, it means to give a larger dose of anesthesia than the patient would normally get, in relation to age and weight," he told Fox News Digital. "That's a really long time," Fam said, referring to the gap between the cardiac arrest and the 911 call. The NPI number of this provider is 1972644979 and was assigned on February 2007. Nguyen underwent a breast augmentation surgery in August 2019. To schedule an appointment with Mr. Rex L. Meeker, please call (303) 641-1162. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Obviously, they are overwhelmingly happy that finally there will be some justice for Emmalyn, but at the same time, this brings up the whole ordeal all over again and it kind of has reawakened the trauma they went through," said David Woodruff, who is the attorney for Nguyens family. For my family, it would be my choice to have any surgery in a hospital, where the highest level of care can be provided in the event of an emergency. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants," Travis Stewart, captain of investigations for the Sheriff's Office, in a statement. The document goes on to say that Nguyen was given nine separate doses of anesthetic reversal agents, including Narcan, over a one-hour period. February 17, 2022 / 11:59 PM She suffered brain damage and is unlikely to return to her previous condition, the lawsuit said. Cookie Notice The family of Emmalyn Nguyen via their lawyer David Woodruff released the following statements: "We are glad we are finally getting justice for Emmalyn. The defense cannot speak out. I think its best to wait and pass judgement until the surgeons trial reveals more facts but it all seems really strange. Rex Meeker agreed to testify against his co-defendant Dr. Geoffrey Kim who is charged with the death of 18-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen, a plastic surgery patient. Even though it will never bring our daughter back, at least this will help others from getting hurt and prevent ruining other families' lives," the family said, according to CBS News. The procedure took place at Kim's Greenwood Village office, Colorado Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery. Emmelyn Nguyen of Thornton, Colorado was getting breast augmentation when supposedly the plastic surgeon, Dr. Geoffrey Kim, and the CRNA, Rex Meeker, left the operating room with the patient unattended for fifteen minutes. Her family says she has suffered severe brain damage and will likely remain in this condition for the rest of her life. located at 11375 Jasper Rd Meeker was reportedly involved in a similar incident in 2007. He said that is something he would have done sooner if he had known she had not been awake for hours, the affidavit says. Location of surgery. Dr. Geoffrey Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker are accused of failing to call 911 for nearly 5 hours after Emmalyn Nguyen's heart stopped on Aug. 1. Its not uncommon to have medical malpractice clients express a desire to see physicians face criminal charges or lose their medical licenses over negligent health care. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Nguyen was taken to a hospital before being transferred 22 days later to a rehab center, where she still receives continual care in a minimally conscious state and is unable to speak, walk or eat on her own. He may not be legally liable at this time, but it certainly looks like he shares at least some of the blame. Share 41 Tweet 26. Rex L. Meeker, CRNA earned a degree of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. He was charged with "reckless manslaughter and first degree . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. But Woodruff says medical records show Nguyen went into cardiac arrest a second time, just a few minutes later, and was again stabilized, but 911 was still not called, even though she was "neurologically unresponsive.". FDA CALLS FOR HIGHLIGHTED BREAST IMPLANT WARNINGS, PATIENT CHECKLIST, "The treatment for a brain injury is to cool the brain within 6 hours to reduce swelling," Woodruff said. Last year, he and Meeker agreed to pay $1 million each to Nguyens family in, Featured Image via Emmalyn Nguyen's family (left) and, A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. Caitlyn Stevens onlyfans leaked reddit the verge, t mobile only fans Fort Worth Texas. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday that they obtained arrest warrants for Dr. Geoffrey Kim, 52, and former nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker in connection with the death of 18-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen. Dec 20, 2019. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, After a two-year investigation, Jeffrey his Dr. Kim surrendered earlier this week and was later released on a $5,000 bond. Popular News. Who makes the best hot chicken sandwich in Denver? CPR performed several times. We love you so much. Story tips can be sent to michael.ruiz@fox.com and on Twitter: @mikerreports, Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Enjoy this content? Kieran Nicholson covers breaking news for The Denver Post. More concerned about the 911 call that apparently happened HOURS after the initial cardiac arrests. This article doesnt mention that at all. He said the most doses he has seen given to reverse anesthetics is two, the affidavit says. According to media reports and the lawsuit, the CRNA administered nine doses of Narcan. Dr. Geoffrey Kim and nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker face criminal charges in the death of Emmalyn Nguyen, who went into a coma on Aug. 1, 2019 and died 14 months later in October 2020. a nurse anesthesiologist Investigators spoke with the ER doctor who treated Nguyen after she was transported to the hospital and he reported that Kim initially told him he was transferring a patient there to be "observed" while medication wore off, the affidavit says. You dont get dropped from a criminal case when there is evidence you were culpable. She was 18-years-old at the . Narcan is a medication that is typically used to reverse drug overdoses. We have significant litigation experience in medical malpractice and brain injury lawsuits. since February 11, 2007, We are confident that the facts will bear this out, attorney Douglas Wolaske told the station. Now, another surgeon is in the news facing felony charges of first-degree aggravated assault and criminally negligent homicide. "It's really hard, it's not easy," said Fam. She went into cardiac arrest after being administered anesthesia, fell into a coma, and died 14 months later. He said everything is fine, Emmalyn is fine, everything is good. I do not think it looks bad for CRNAs as a profession or him at all. or redistributed. Call (602) 795-8700. The medical boards order found that Kim performed CPR on Nguyen when there was trouble the day of her surgery, but he failed to contact emergency personnel to take her to a hospital for about five hours. "I just had kind of a weird feeling," Nguyens mother, Lynn Fam, told reporters after filing the lawsuit. Reaction score. The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants, said Captain of Investigations Travis Stewart. The Board stated its preference that Dr. Kim perform surgeries in a hospital, rather than officer-based setting, during probation period. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. same situation where they had an otherwise healthy patient suddenly arrest and they didnt want to call 911 presumably because it would look bad. FOX31 first reported on Nguyen's condition on Dec. 18, the day her parents filed a lawsuit that names the practice, its owner Dr. Geoffrey Kim, nurse anesthetist Rex Meeker, registered nurse . This is the sad story of a healthy eighteen year old girl who went in for cosmetic surgery and wound up brain damaged for life. At all times material hereto, Rex L. Meeker, CRNA ("Defendant Meeker") was and is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist ("CRNA"), licensed to practice nursing in the State of Colorado . has 16 years Call 281-580-8800, Lingual nerve injury left patient with numb tongue, loss of taste, IV infiltration or extravasation can cause serious injuries, People over 25 years old have higher risk, require extra precautions, Treatments and surgeries require both an order and consent, Texas Supreme Court provides further guidance on how tort reform periodic payment law applies. She reportedly developed pneumonia in her nursing home and went into cardiac arrest multiple times over a 24-hour period. Meeker finally called 911 more than five hours after Nguyen was first given anesthesia, the familys lawsuit said. Nurse Anesthetist Rex Meeker is also being sued. First, the anesthesia and procedure were being done at an outpatient surgery center, rather than a hospital. (CBS4) - A Thornton family has filed a lawsuit against a prominent doctor and a nurse anesthetist saying after their daughter suffered two cardiac arrests and brain damage during cosmetic surgery, the medical professionals overseeing her care did not call 911 for more than five hours. Interestingly, the Board order has a section with the heading ONSITE ANESTHESIOLOGIST. It requires that during the duration of Dr. Kims probation, hes only allowed to perform surgical procedures that require general anesthesia and conscious sedation with an anesthesiologist present in on site. His conduct was deemed unprofessional. It looks like OP posted an AMP link. A warrant has been issued for Meeker's arrest. In a . After a "lengthy criminal investigation," the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said it issued arrest warrants for Dr. Geoffrey Kim, who turned himself in, and anesthetist Rex Meeker, who was. Court records show Kim's Colorado medical license was briefly suspended in January 2020, as a result of the incident involving Nguyen. Travis Stewart, the Arapahoe sheriffs captain of investigations, said in a statement that the criminal investigation opened shortly after the failed surgery and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants. Girls high school basketball team forfeits a game because it refused to play against a team with a transgender player, Fox Leaders Wanted to Break From Trump but Struggled to Make It Happen, Not Going to Read That: White House Press Secretary Brushes Off DeSantis Op-Ed, Sunshine returns to SoCal on Thursday but cold temps stick around, Woodstock Photos That Make Us Say Whoa!, Wake-Up Weather: AM showers then mild and breezy, Mexican president says Tesla to build plant in Mexico, Twitter rolls out updated 'zero tolerance' policy on violent speech. Read his reports or check out his bio & send him an email. and nurse-anesthetist, Rex Meeker, CRNA who caused Emmalyn's catastrophic brain injury on Aug. 1, 2019: that . The investigation has taken more than two years to complete and involved dozens of interviews and search warrants. She went into cardiac arrest and began turning blue during the procedure. They leave her on the operating table for 5 hours and dont call 911 for 5 hours while Emmalyns mother sits in the waiting room unaware of whats happening, the Nguyens lawyer, David Woodruff, told KDVR. Stay strong," whispers Fam. The office staff also told her that the procedure had never started and would need to be rescheduled. 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The next month it was reinstated but put on probation for a three-year period, during which, Kim was only allowed to perform procedures that required "general anesthesia and conscious sedation with an anesthesiologist present and on-site," the document says. Meeker was the nurse anesthetist for Nguyens surgery, according to court documents. . Medical authorities said Meeker also had an obligation to call for emergency help and get Nguyen to a hospital. Rex meeker anesthesiologist plastic breast surgery, emmalyn nguyen. 6. A call and email to an attorney believed to be representing Meeker were also not returned. I applaud District Attorney John Kellner and Assistant DA Gary Dawson for their courage and tenacity in this investigation and in bringing these charges. First published on February 17, 2022 / 11:59 PM. Within five to ten additional minutes, the patient went into cardiac arrest, and the CRNA and surgeon continued resuscitation efforts. Nguyen suffered severe brain damage and was in a minimally conscious state before she died in October 2020. The sheriff's office said Kim is charged with first-degree aggravated assault and criminally negligent homicide. After receiving anesthesia, she reportedly experienced two cardiac arrests and ended up with brain damage. Featured Image via Emmalyn Nguyen's family (left) and CBS Denver (right). On January 9, 2020, the Colorado Medical Board suspended Dr. Kims medical license in an order that found objective and reasonable grounds to believe that he deliberately and willfully violated the Medical Practice Act and/or that the public health, safety, or welfare imperatively required emergency action. She reported that she went to the surgery center on the day of the procedure around 4 p.m. to pick up her daughter because the procedure was only supposed to last roughly two hours. man - there was a similar case a few years ago just outside of Philadelphia. Meeker was also sued as a result of a 2009 case during which a woman died after suffering brain damage during her breast augmentation surgery, KDVR-TV reported. Kim and Rex Meeker, a nurse who has been charged with manslaughter in Nguyen's death, allegedly . A Colorado plastic surgeon is facing charges stemming from the death of an 18-year-old patient following a breast augmentation procedure in 2019. The Board noted that as an advanced practice nurse, the CRNA had the responsibility to timely contact emergency services and refer the patient to a hospital. Press J to jump to the feed. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in administering anesthesia, the medical treatment that keeps you from feeling pain during procedures or surgery. Connect to great care anywhere with My AZ Doc. Shes young, shes healthy, shell be OK, its just taking her long to wake up.'. She told CBS4 that at one point Dr. Kim told her "Everything went fine, the only thing is we didn't proceed with the procedure because her heart rate dropped but she is fine. They explained that in anesthesiologist physician met with them before the procedure and there was no mention of the fact that the CRNA would be part of the team or, in fact, that the CRNA would be running the show anesthesia-wise in the operating room. I firmly believe that anesthesia staffing should be part of the informed consent conversation and pre-anesthesia evaluation thats required by the standard of care. "I was fine with it," said Fam. During discovery in many cases, weve obtained emergency transfer agreements between outpatient surgery centers and hospitals. That same document though says that a 911 call was not made until 7:35 p.m. and Nguyen never regained consciousness. He was booked on suspicion of two felonies, first-degree aggravated assault and criminally negligent homicide, and released. Rex Meeker has agreed to not practice as a certified nurse anesthetist temporarily; however, he is allowed to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Colorado. Nguyens familys lawyer, David Woodruff, alleged that nurse Rex Meeker had left the then-18-year-old unattended for 15 minutes after administering the anesthesia. Hopefully bringing criminal charges will bring out the truth about what happened and will bring justice for Emmalyn. Kim, who turned himself in with his attorney, was also released after posting a $5,000 bond. But until you see all the evidence, no one knows. Meeker, the nurse anesthetist, was involved in a similar situation in 2007. Meeker, on the other hand, was solely charged with manslaughter. I don't know how they can sleep at night knowing they did this to her. Incredibly, according to the Board order, the surgeon didnt call 911 for emergency personnel to transport the patient to the hospital following her systolic arrest for approximately five hours. I was a teenage girl once before.". Whether is was LAST or unmonitored care it's negligence. The lawsuit alleges negligence and contends that during that initial timeframe, Nguyen went into cardiac arrest and was revived when Dr. Kim performed CPR. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Read more from NextShark! Emmalyn Nguyen / Credit: CBS Denver Legal Statement. Let us help you. This tragic case illustrates some common themes that Ive written about over the years, based on my experience in handling medical negligence and wrongful death cases. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A nurse who was interviewed reported that she, Meeker, and other staff members made "multiple requests" to call 911. Lynn Fam says what was supposed to be a two hour procedure stretched late into the afternoon and she kept asking what was happening.
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