The Tragic Story of Rebecca Arcangeli: A $15 Million Settlement Case
Heart surgery is supposed to be a life-saving procedure, but for Rebecca Arcangeli, it turned into a tragedy. In 2017, at just 46 years old, Rebecca underwent open heart surgery at Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital. The surgeon who performed the operation, Dr. Joseph Coselli, recently found himself at the center of a $15 million settlement case for allegedly violating regulations.
Rebecca’s daughter, Sarah Coupland, recalls the events leading up to her mother’s surgery. It all started with chest pain, which turned out to be a severe dissection from an aneurysm. Rebecca was rushed to Baylor St. Luke’s for an emergency operation. Dr. Coselli assured the family that everything went well, but just weeks later, Rebecca was back in the hospital. Tragically, she passed away due to complications from a blockage caused by a kink in the replacement valve.
A federal government investigation revealed shocking details about Dr. Coselli and two other surgeons at Baylor St. Luke’s. They were accused of double-booking surgeries and allowing unqualified medical residents to operate unsupervised. The investigation also found that the surgeons continued to bill Medicare as if they were present during all surgeries.
Looking back, Sarah feels that there were signs the medical staff did not pay enough attention to her mother. While she can never know for certain if Dr. Coselli was negligent, she wishes they had chosen a different surgeon. The allegations against the St. Luke’s surgeons stemmed from a whistleblower complaint in 2019, leading to the $15 million settlement.
In response to the settlement, Baylor St. Luke’s stated that it was related to a documentation and billing issue and was not an admission of liability. They continue to have confidence in Dr. Coselli, who is still employed as a professor at Baylor College of Medicine. However, for Sarah and her family, the pain of losing Rebecca under such circumstances remains.
As this case continues to unfold, one thing is clear – the importance of advocating for loved ones during medical procedures. It is a reminder to always ask questions and ensure that the best care possible is being provided.
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