Former patients of an orthopedic surgeon in Dayton, Ohio, have petitioned a federal court to force a medical device company to stop selling him medical equipment. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court against Roswell, Ga.-based Mylotec Inc., also seeks damages for 19 former patients of Dr. Lawrence Rothstein.
According to the complaint, Mylotec allegedly sold video-guided catheters to Rothstein, even though the catheters were not FDA approved for use with a laser. “Myelotec representatives were present during many of the spinal surgeries conducted in Ohio and knew or should have known that the company was placing patients at risk by promoting and permitting the alteration of its devices for non-FDA approved surgical use,” the complaint says.
Rothstein claims to have pioneered a non-invasive laser spine surgery called AccuraScope. The former patients allege Rothstein’s surgery left them with nerve damage, pain, weakness, numbness, paralysis and incontinence.
Rothstein declared bankruptcy in June 2010. At that time, there were 19 active malpractice cases against him. Previously, he had settled at least three cases and lost two trials, including a $5 million judgment for a Clark County woman who was left with permanent brain damage due to an overdose of pain medication. The bankruptcy case – which is still pending – halted the remaining malpractice cases.
Source: Dayton Daily News