Patient dies due to alleged negligence: How did a 'relatively safe' procedure turn tragic?

A recently filed lawsuit against the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Ravi Veeraswamy, MD, alleges that medical negligence led to the death of a patient, Virginia Billingsley, following what should have been a routine procedure.^[] The case, brought forward by the woman’s family, claims that failures in post-operative care resulted in Billingsley’s death.

According to court documents, Billingsley was admitted to MUSC for catheterization surgery, performed by Dr. Veeraswamy. Post-operatively, however, Billingsley reportedly exhibited signs of complications that were either not recognized or acted upon with appropriate urgency, including “discomfort, sharp pains, fatigue, acid reflux, pain when eating, a lack of appetite and no bowel movement for weeks," as reported by Live 5 WCSC.^[]

A 'relatively safe' procedure with a fatal outcome 

Billingsley was scheduled for the surgery approximately 5 months prior, after imaging revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

But Billingsley’s symptoms persisted; here’s how the rest of the case unfolded:

• Ten days after the surgery at MUSC, Billingsley visited a different hospital, where she was diagnosed with a UTI and discharged with an antibiotic prescription.

• About 3 weeks after that, in late-March, Billingsley visited the ER of a different hospital, where doctors diagnosed her complication, explaining that blood flow to her stomach and gall bladder had been cut off during the initial surgery; her gall bladder was then removed.

• One month later, Billingsley went back to MUSC and got in touch with her original care team—allegedly Dr. Veeraswamy told Billingsley that he had been contacted about her complications from other providers, but “he thought it was just a woman who had gall bladder surgery and he quote ‘didn’t think much of it’,” per Live 5 WCSC.

• One week later, on April 12, Billingsley underwent another catheterization procedure, in which doctors attempted to open her artery—this surgery was unsuccessful.

• Billingsley would have undergone another surgery to fix the original complication, scheduled for April 20, but it was canceled after she developed a C. Difficile infection; the next surgery date also had to be rescheduled, as doctors thought she now had a blood infection.

• Billingsley’s surgery was finally completed on May 12, in which a vein from her leg was rerouted to help restore blood flow to her abdomen. Doctors also allegedly attempted to remove her gall bladder during the procedure, but were surprised to find she did not have one.

On May 29, after suffering “incredible amounts of pain post-operation,” Billingsley was sent home on hospice; she passed away on June 9.

Who is at fault?

Based on the details of the case, it would appear a lack of communication among providers played a role in the fatal outcome. Billingsley’s concerns were consistently either dismissed or not escalated appropriately, raising questions about whether institutional protocols for recognizing and responding to patient deterioration were adequately followed.

While MUSC has not publicly commented on the allegations, the case brings renewed attention to the importance of vigilant post-operative monitoring and timely intervention. As legal proceedings unfold, further details may shed light on whether systemic failures contributed to the fatal outcome.

A history of negligence

For instance, in September 2024, a lawsuit was filed claiming that a surgeon at MUSC misplaced screws during a child's spinal surgery, leading to significant complications.^[] Additionally, in June 2024, a family alleged that their 17-year-old was left in a vegetative state due to improper care at the institution.^[]

Whether the case brought by Billingsley’s family will proceed to trial or result in a settlement remains to be seen, but it underscores the scrutiny placed on institutions regarding patient outcomes and adherence to best practices in post-operative care.