The parents of a 13-year-old girl have filed a $17 million lawsuit against Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and Dr. Ashok Muralidaran, alleging that medical negligence led to their daughter being told she was dying, only to be saved by another hospital. The second hospital discovered that a new heart valve had been implanted upside down during surgery at OHSU.
Details of the Lawsuit
Steven and Lori Stokes filed the complaint in Multnomah County Circuit Court, accusing OHSU and Dr. Muralidaran of medical negligence. The teenager underwent open-heart surgery on August 15, 2025, at OHSU, where Dr. Muralidaran implanted a prosthetic heart valve. The procedure required stopping her heart while on cardiac bypass, but doctors were unable to restart it afterward. She was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a machine that mechanically pumps blood through a heart-lung machine, reoxygenates it, and circulates it back into the body.
Initially, doctors told the parents the surgery went "very well," but the girl's heart was not working correctly due to "shock" from the surgery. Despite assurances that ECMO would allow her heart to rest and recover, her condition did not improve. She remained in the intensive care unit (ICU) with an open chest incision for three days. Doctors ordered multiple tests and exploratory surgery but found no explanation for her failing heart. They eventually discussed end-of-life decisions, including organ donation.
Transfer to Seattle Children's Hospital
During a third surgery, doctors informed the parents that their daughter required either a permanent artificial heart or a heart transplant, neither of which could be performed at OHSU. They recommended transferring her to an out-of-state medical center, but warned she might not survive the trip. The parents decided to take the risk and transported her to Seattle Children's Hospital the next day, where she was "very near death."
At Seattle Children's Hospital, doctors performed multiple surgeries to remove accumulated blood, clots, and fluid from her open chest. A scan of her heart revealed that the prosthetic valve had been implanted upside down, hindering its function. Surgeons removed the inverted valve and replaced it with a correctly positioned one. Her heart responded immediately and began functioning normally. She was taken off ECMO and cardiac bypass, and her condition stabilized. A month later, she was discharged home.
Financial and Legal Claims
The lawsuit states that medical bills at OHSU for six days of hospitalization exceeded $1 million. The family incurred $2.35 million in costs for revision surgery and treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital, where she stayed for about 35 days. These figures do not include all ongoing medical expenses. The family is seeking $17 million in damages, including approximately $5 million for alleged negligence and $3 million in economic losses.
The case highlights the severe consequences of medical errors and the importance of seeking second opinions. The parents' decision to transfer their daughter ultimately saved her life, exposing the critical mistake made during the initial surgery.
