Wednesday, July 12, 2023

July 12, 1978: Choked on Vomit While Under Abortion Anesthesia

In July of 1978, Twenty-seven-year-old Gail Mazo went to Mt. Sinai in New York for an abortion, because she had ulcerative colitis.

While she was under general anesthesia for the abortion, Gail began to vomit, and breathed the vomit into her lungs.

The material in her lungs caused complications that killed Gail. She died on July 12, 1978.

Gail's survivors filed suit against the anesthesiologist for failure to recognize that Gail was a high-risk patient and to treat her accordingly. The family and the doctor eventually settled out of court for $800,000.


Source: New York County (NY) Supreme Court Case No. 8517-80

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