Man has his arms and legs amputated after routine hospital procedure went wrong

Source:

Andrews, L. (2025, February 7). Man has his arms and legs amputated after routine hospital procedure went wrong. DailyMail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14372889/hospital-routine-procedure-arms-legs-chad-gerlaugh.html

In April 2019, Chad Gerlaugh, 46, from Tampa, Florida, went to the hospital for a routine kidney stone removal surgery. While the procedure itself was successful, complications arose afterward when his blood pressure plummeted, and his heart stopped for seven minutes. Doctors discovered he had developed sepsis, a life-threatening infection that causes organs to shut down.

To treat the infection, Gerlaugh was given antibiotics and vasopressors, which redirected blood flow to vital organs but away from his extremities. Over the following days, his limbs turned black as they began to die, leading to the need for amputations. Both of his legs were amputated above the knee, and his left arm was amputated above the elbow, while his right arm was amputated mid-forearm.

Before the surgery, Gerlaugh had been in a wheelchair since a 1998 car accident left him with spinal damage. Despite limited mobility, he had maintained his independence, working a $70,000-a-year job as a technical support worker and modifying his vehicle to drive. However, after the amputations, he now relies on his parents for daily activities, including eating, bathing, and even scratching his head.

The case was revealed through court filings accusing Morton Plant Hospital of mishandling his care. Lawyers suggested proper management could have prevented the amputations. The hospital, run by BayCare, has stated it prioritizes patient safety and is reviewing Gerlaugh’s case to learn from the experience. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Gerlaugh’s tragic ordeal highlights the rare but serious risk of sepsis following common procedures, with studies suggesting a 5% risk of infection for patients.