In a gripping case that underscores the complexities of medical care and patient trust, a 72-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a prominent Florida hospital and several associated medical professionals. The complaint, lodged by Sue Lisa Flaum in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Palm Beach County on February 3, 2025, targets Wellington Regional Medical Center, LLC, and various doctors affiliated with the facility.
The lawsuit arises from events dating back to November 6, 2022, when Ms. Flaum experienced symptoms suggestive of a stroke and was transported to Wellington Regional Medical Center for emergency care. According to the complaint, despite her initial symptoms subsiding upon arrival at the hospital, she was informed by medical staff that imaging revealed a "large mass" on her neck/spine necessitating emergency surgery. The plaintiff alleges that subsequent surgeries were performed without adequately addressing her dangerously high blood pressure or investigating alternative causes for her symptoms. This alleged oversight culminated in a significant cerebral vascular event post-surgery on November 11, leaving Ms. Flaum partially paralyzed and requiring round-the-clock care.
Ms. Flaum's complaint accuses Wellington Regional Medical Center and its affiliates of negligence under Florida Statutes §766 and §768. She asserts that the defendants failed to meet professional standards of care by misdiagnosing her condition as related to an incidental benign tumor rather than intracranial vascular disease. The complaint further claims that necessary diagnostic procedures were either inadequately performed or ignored altogether. In particular, it is alleged that Drs. Joshua Gabriel Kouri and Monica Tirtarahardja proceeded with neurosurgery based on erroneous conclusions about the mass's impact on Ms. Flaum's spinal column.
The plaintiff also implicates South Florida Neurosurgery LLC; Blue Radiology Services LLC; Drs. Habibollah Ghanavati (also known as Bobby Ghanavati), Thomas Francis Marino, Mark Douglas Novick, Orlando Alberto Castillo, Pavel Sergeyev; registered nurse Peter Olmeda; and Dr. Nerin Duddala in her allegations of malpractice and failure to provide appropriate medical intervention during critical moments following surgery.
Seeking justice for what she describes as preventable harm resulting from substandard medical practices, Ms. Flaum demands compensatory damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and costs. Her legal team argues that these damages reflect not only physical suffering but also mental anguish and financial burdens stemming from ongoing medical needs.
Representing Ms. Flaum are attorneys whose names have not been disclosed in this document extract. The Case Number: 502025CA001001 XXXAMB Div: AJ.