Botched back surgery leads to $5.6 million malpractice verdict

By Daniel Hawn

Published on March 14, 2006

The jury held Dr. Robert Ricketson responsible for 65 percent of the injuries incurred by Arturo Iturralde, who underwent surgery at Hilo Medical Center on Jan. 29, 2001. Thirty-five percent of the responsiblility was attributed to the hospital for giving Ricketson credentials despite allegations of past drug use.

According to the lawsuit, the titanium rods that were to be used in surgery on Iturralde's spine were found missing. Ricketson, who represented himself in court, said that he chose not to wait for replacement rods from Medtronic, the parts' manufacturer, because that would have endangered Iturralde's life since he had already lost a lot of blood.

Instead, Ricketson cut the shaft off a screwdriver and inserted it into Iturralde's spine.

A week after the surgery, the makeshift implant broke. Iturralde underwent two operations to correct his injuries; however, he never recovered. He died in 2003 at the age of 75.

According to court records, a nurse strongly warned Ricketson not to use the screwdriver implant. Court documents also show that Medtronic notified Ricketson that it could have replacement rods brought to him in 90 minutes.

Prior to his employment at Hilo Medical Center, Ricketson had his medical license suspended in two states for reported drug use.

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