Toddler’s Death After Routine Procedure Spurs Lawsuit Against ENT Medical Services and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
A Muscatine County family has taken legal action against ENT Medical Services and one of its otolaryngologists after their 2-year-old child tragically passed away following a routine procedure. The family has recently added the state of Iowa as a defendant to their lawsuit, citing oversight of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC).
In an amendment to the initial petition, the estate of Louden Lofgren stated that during the child’s operation, a UIHC resident participated without obtaining proper consent from the family. The lawsuit asserts that Dr. Ryan Smith performed an adenoidectomy on Louden without identifying himself or receiving permission from the child’s mother, Maggie Lofgren. This act is considered a medical battery, according to the amended lawsuit.
The toddler underwent a procedure in April 2021 at the Iowa City Ambulatory Surgery Center to have tubes placed in both ears and to remove his adenoids. The primary surgeon for the operation was identified as Dr. Thomas Simpson, an otolaryngologist and chair of the Iowa City Ambulatory Surgery Center’s board of directors. Dr. Smith, a fourth-year medical resident, assisted during the procedure.
During the adenoidectomy, significant bleeding occurred, requiring immediate action to control it. Unfortunately, despite initial efforts to halt the bleeding, it resumed as the child regained consciousness, leading to severe complications. Louden’s family reported that he experienced coughing and bleeding, filling his oral cavity.
Labs revealed anemia and low hemoglobin levels, prompting Louden’s transfer to Mercy Iowa City on the same day of the procedure. He received a partial blood transfusion but still displayed an increased heart rate upon discharge on April 4, 2021. Shockingly, his hemoglobin levels were not rechecked after the transfusion.
Nursing documentation from the operating room indicated that during the intraoperative bleeding, Dr. Smith was present, while Dr. Simpson resumed the operation shortly afterward. The amended lawsuit highlights the fact that Dr. Simpson’s notes do not specify who was operating on Louden when the hemorrhage occurred.
The lawsuit further alleges that Dr. Smith failed to introduce himself as a medical resident who would be performing part of Louden’s surgery before it took place. Maggie Lofgren, the child’s mother, was unaware that Dr. Smith would be involved in any aspect of the procedure.
At Mercy Iowa City, Dr. Simpson allegedly made no effort to determine the source of the excessive bleeding, despite Louden’s critical condition. Louden’s family took him to the UIHC emergency room within 24 hours of discharge from Mercy Iowa City, reporting that he appeared pale and listless.
Louden was admitted to UIHC for dehydration and symptomatic blood loss, where he received another blood transfusion, stabilizing his condition. However, just five days later, tragedy struck again while Louden was eating dinner at home. He began to hemorrhage and went into cardiac arrest. Louden was rushed to Trinity Hospital in Muscatine but was ultimately sent back to UIHC, where efforts to save his life were unsuccessful. He tragically passed away at the age of 2.
The amended lawsuit holds the State of Iowa vicariously liable for the negligence and battery committed by its employees, physicians, residents, and anyone involved in Louden’s care, including Dr. Ryan Smith. The family seeks damages for medical expenses, losses due to the premature death of their child, and compensation for pain and suffering.
The family initially filed claims with the State Appeal Board on March 23, but after six months of inaction, the claims are considered denied.
While Dr. Simpson and ENT Medical Services have denied many of the allegations put forth in the lawsuit, including claims of pain and suffering, medical expenses, and deprived earnings, their response regarding Dr. Smith’s involvement remains inconclusive due to insufficient information.
The tragic death of Louden Lofgren has sparked a lawsuit that seeks justice for his passing. The inclusion of the state of Iowa as a defendant adds another layer of complexity to the case, raising questions about oversight and ensuring accountability within the medical system. As the legal proceedings unfold, it is hoped that the family can find the answers they seek and raise awareness of the importance of patient safety.
