Amputee sues doctors

Loss of leg prompts lawsuit

By David Baker
Posted Sunday, May 11, 2008

A woman who had her left leg amputated above the knee after surgery for a knee replacement is suing four doctors and a hospital.

The lawsuit filed by Helen G. Turcotte of Cohoes names orthopedic surgeon Myung H. Kim, and doctors R. Clement Darling III, Sean P. Roddy and Paul Kreienberg. Also named as defendants are the Vascular Group of Southwoods Boulevard in Albany, Memorial Hospital in Albany and its owner, Northeast Health Inc.

According to legal papers, “On or about September 26, 2006, defendant Myung H. Kim undertook as a physician to admit plaintiff Helen G. Turcotte as a patient at Albany Memorial Hospital to perform a total left knee replacement and in doing so, caused trauma to plaintiff Helen G. Turcotte’s popliteal artery and vein.

“As a result of defendant Myung H. Kim’s failure to properly care for and treat the plaintiff Helen G. Turcotte in accordance with accepted medical procedure and by otherwise deviating and departing from accepted practice plaintiff Helen G. Turcotte was caused to suffer serious and permanent bodily injury and illness resulting in the amputation of her left leg,” the suit says.

The suit, which was filed in December 2007, seeks damages for Helen Turcotte and for her husband, Robert Turcotte Sr.

The Turcottes’ attorney is Donald Boyajian of Albany.

The defendants are represented by the Albany law firms of O’Connor, O’Connor, Breese and First; Maynard, O’Connor Smith; and Thuillez, Ford, Gold, Butler and Young.

The case has been assigned to Judge Eugene Devine in state Supreme Court, Albany County.

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UPDATE: This case ended with a settlement in November 2009.

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