Greenfield Family Files Lawsuit Against UPMC

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Robert Fandray, 68, of Greenfield, had a six-way bypass at UPMC Shadyside Hospital December 15th and was told he was going to have a full recovery.

Two days later, something went horribly wrong.

"This shouldn't happen – not in intensive care," Kathleen Fandray said.

"I want them to change something – they have to," she continued. "People cannot go through this."

Intensive care patients are watched around the clock by nurses. Monitors record all of their vital signs.

The monitors show any drop in blood pressure, any breathing problems, anything unusual and they sound an alarm if by chance a patient pulls a monitor off.

Somehow, according to documents, Robert Fandray wasn't on those monitors.

"I believe that he went into cardiac arrest and either the monitor and the alarms were off or they were just completely ignored – that's what I truly believe happened," Gregory Fandray, the victim's son, said. "For almost 17 minutes so he could have gone 17 minutes without oxygen."

Those suspicions were confirmed in two separate Shadyside Hospital documents obtained by the KDKA Investigators.

Reports filed by medical staff after Fandray's death indicate family members asked, "How long he was down (without a pulse or heartbeat) to get a better idea of what his brain damage might be.

"Dr. Crispino said that they don't know how long he was down because he wasn't connected to the monitor machine."

The document goes on to say "that cardiac monitor has been sent out to a third party for examination."

The tests showed the monitor to be in working order.

A second document confirms the worst fears of family members. Referring to Fandray it states, "He was not on the monitor at the time of (cardiac) arrest."

"I would like for them to admit their fault and make changes in procedures just to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."

Sources close to the investigation tell KDKA's Marty Griffin, "The monitors were off for approximately 16 minutes."

Sources also indicate "mistakes were made."

"I think there's no question he would be alive today," Jon Perry, the plaintiff's attorney, said. "Otherwise why would you subject a man to six bypass surgery if you didn't have a very good opinion that he would survive for many years after you did that?"

No comment from UPMC regarding the lawsuit.

KDKA's Marty Griffin reports sources say negotiations are under way with the family in hopes of avoiding litigation.

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