TAMPA -- A man is blaming a doctor in court after his wife's surgery left her a quadriplegic.
Garrick J. Gaffigan, as personal representative of the estate of Melissa A. Gaffigan, deceased, filed a complaint on July 9 in Hillsborough County Circuit Court against Tampa Pain Relief Center, Surgery Partners and Bruce A. Piszel, M.D. for medical malpractice and vicarious liability.
According to the complaint, Garrick J. Gaffigan is the surviving spouse of Melissa A. Gaffigan. On Jan. 17, 2020, Piszel performed a radiofrequency ablation on Melissa A. Gaffigan's cervical spine at Medical Village Surgical Center.
Garrick J. Gaffigan alleges that Piszel was negligent in the care, evaluation and treatment of his wife, causing the doctor to fail to recognize that the needle was placed in the spinal cord during the radiofrequency ablation.
The error caused Melissa Gaffigan to suffer a thermal injury to her spinal cord, resulting in permanent neurological injury, specifically, quadriplegia. Garrick Gaffigan alleges that his wife's injuries has caused him to suffer loss of consortium on a multitude of levels. She later died, but the suit does not make a claim for wrongful death.
Gaffigan is represented by Gregory J. Hoag of Trentalange and Kelley, P.A.
Circuit Court of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in and for Hillsborough County Florida Civil Division filing number 130375035