WHEELING - Wheeling-based law firm Bordas & Bordas obtained a $5.1 million jury verdict in a medical negligence lawsuit in Mahoning County, Ohio, on April 25 for a woman who allegedly suffered multiple injuries as a result of a 2010 plastic surgery procedure.
Kelly Turkoly of Glencoe, Ohio, had a plastic surgery procedure performed by Dr. Richard D. Gentile on March 12, 2010, that she claimed caused her to suffer multiple recurrent infections, nerve damage and permanent scarring.
The jury found that that Gentile was negligent, that he failed to obtain Turkoly’s informed consent and that he committed medical battery in connection with the surgery.
The family’s attorney, Geoffrey Brown, said he hopes the verdict serves as a warning to others.
“The Hippocratic Oath states ‘first do no harm,’" Brown said. "When medical professionals don’t act responsibly, they run the risk that someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed.”
Brown said tragically, in this case, that person was Turkoly.
"Hopefully, this jury’s verdict will cause other health care practitioners to think twice in the future before choosing to ignore medical standards of care and failing to obtain informed consent from their patients," Brown said.
Brown and Zak Zatezalo, another Bordas & Bordas attorney, represented Turkoly and her husband.
The trial spanned eight days and included testimony from numerous experts, including Dr. Michael H. Rosenberg, a Diplomat of The American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Surgery, American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
Gentile told WFMJ 21 News that he was disappointed in the verdict. He said the patient signed seven consent forms notifying her of the risks of the surgery.
Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas Pokorny presided over the case.