Measurement error during brain surgery results in visual and cognitive impairments

Settlement 3 days before scheduled trial against a neurosurgeon and two medical device companies for claims arising out of errors made during an epilepsy surgery at a major Boston hospital. During a procedure where a medical laser ablates or burns the areas of the brain where the patient’s seizure activity is occurring, the defendants made a measurement error, inserted the laser at too great a depth, failed to ensure that the laser was in the correct place by performing a MRI scan, and then burned the wrong part of the patient’s brain.  As a result of this preventable surgical error and her resulting traumatic brain injury, the patient sustained significant cognitive and visual impairments which impact most of her activities of daily life and prevent her from living independently. The settlement – believed to be the largest reported medical malpractice settlement for Massachusetts in 2025 – occurred on the eve of trial after nearly 5 years of litigation and 4 mediations.