A Connecticut man beloved by his extended family died at a Connecticut hospital in 2023 and a member of that family claims the hospital is at fault for his death.
Peter Dana Trapanese died on June 4, 2023 at Bridgeport Hospital in part due to cardiac arrest, and after being treated at the hospital since May 2023, according to the lawsuit filed by his sister in state Superior Court. Yale New Haven Health, of which Bridgeport Hospital is a part, also is named as defendant in the suit, it shows.
Trapanese “had a great sense of humor, infectious laugh, with those beautiful, smiling, big, baby, blues, twinkling like gems,” and loved the beach, whether sunbathing, walking or biking,: and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of New York City, and all it had to offer” and the Giants, according to his obituary.
The suit, a wrongful death claim against Bridgeport Hospital, alleges Trapanese began treatment there on or about May 17, 2023, and it continued to June 4, 2023, when he “suffered severe, serious, painful and permanent injuries resulting in his death.”
A spokesperson for the health system said “Bridgeport Hospital is aware of this lawsuit and is committed to providing the safest and highest quality of care possible, however, we are unable to comment on pending litigation.”
The injuries and death suffered by Trapanese allegedly “were caused by the failure” of Bridgeport Hospital “to exercise reasonable care” and to properly and adequately care for, treat, diagnose, monitor and supervise Trapanese, the suit claims.
Among claims in the suit are that the hospital allegedly failed to “keep proper and adequate medical records” in accordance with state regulations, specifically referencing Section 19a-14-40 et seq. of the regulations.
Also, it alleges, the hospital failed to “properly monitor Trapanese on cardiac telemetry which would have alerted the attending medical staff to the cardiac arrest meaningfully earlier, which would have prompted a much sooner initiation of life-saving CPR and Advanced Cardiac Life Support.” Also that it “failed to recognize and appreciate that the decedent’s severely reduced left ventricular function (EF<20%) in the context of the known Qtc interval prolongation compounded his risk of sudden cardiac death” and “failed to use a defibrillator to administer a shock at the crucial time when pulseless ventricular arrhythmia should have been identified.” The suit claims that, in addition to his death, Trapanese suffered: alteration in mental status; untreated shortness of breath; an abnormal cardiac rhythm; pulseless ventricular arrhythmia; dangerous ventricular arrhythmia that resulted in cardiac arrest; irreversible, devastating anoxic brain injury; pain and suffering; and mental anguish. A message seeking comment was left with Thomas D. Cocco, of Cocco & Ginsberg, the Bridgeport attorney handling the case for the Trapanese estate. Trapanese “loved technology and gadgets, especially pertaining to music. He had an extensive collection, expanding all genres,” his obituary said. “As a younger man while working at security for the Capital Theater in Passaic, (New Jersey) he was able to enjoy all of the latest and greatest musicians who played and even worked with a few as their sound man. Pete’s outgoing personality was evident through his expansive group of friends. From his teens through today, he cherished each and everyone.”