The Stony Brook Hospital is currently under investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney Office of Thomas Spota. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is also reviewing the Hospital, according to commission spokesperson Elizabeth Zhani. The findings of the Commission could lead to loss of full accreditation. If the Commission finds errors, the Hospital has 45 days to rectify them.
The Hospital is being sued for $30 million by parents of Amee Martin, one of the three children who died under Hospital miscare. The wrongful death lawsuit names Dr. John Ricotta, the surgeon and the chief of surgery; Dr. Zvi Jacob, the anesthesiologist; two residents; a nurse; and an operating room technician.
The Department of Health report and Amee Martin’s mother, Judee have brought more light to the circumstances leading to Amee’s death. Amee needed blood withdrawn for analysis. The doctor who drew it put the catheter in her artery instead of her vein. Amee’s leg grew pale, which is a common sign of a blood clot. The leg’s condition deteriorated overnight and the clot was removed by a vascular surgeon the next day.
Dr. Richard Fine, Dean of the School of Medicine continues to maintain that the pediatric cardiac program is a success. According to a press release by the Hospital, the program ‘[has] performed 40 open heart procedures on pediatric patients with no mortality.’