Papa et al v. United States of America

Filing 94

MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER: The Court finds that Plaintiffs failed to prove based on the preponderance of the evidence that Dr. Langdon committed medical malpractice in her use of the GlideScope during Mr. Papa's initial intubation. The Cour t hereby ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment in Defendant's favor and close this case; and the Court further ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court serve a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and Order on all parties in accordance with the Local Rules. Signed by U.S. District Judge Mae A. D'Agostino on 07/19/2023. (ban)

Case 1:17-cv-00898-MAD-CFH Document 94 Filed 07/19/23 Page 1 of 23

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
____________________________________________
MATTHEW PAPA, as Co-Administrators of the Estate
of Joseph A. Papa, and Emma Papa; and
ELIZABETH REUSSWIG, as Co-Administrators of the
Estate of Joseph A. Papa, and Emma Papa,
Plaintiffs,
vs.

1:17-CV-898
(MAD/CFH)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Defendant.
____________________________________________
APPEARANCES:

OF COUNSEL:

BRENNAN, WHITE LAW FIRM
163 Haviland Road
Queensbury, New York 12804
Attorneys for Plaintiffs

WILLIAM J. WHITE, ESQ.

OFFICE OF THE UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY – ALBANY
James T. Foley U.S. Courthouse
445 Broadway, Room 218
Albany, New York 12207-2924
Attorneys for Defendant

CATHLEEN B. CLARK, AUSA
KAREN FOLSTER LESPERANCE, AUSA

Mae A. D'Agostino, U.S. District Judge:
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. INTRODUCTION
On August 16, 2017, Plaintiffs Matthew Papa and Elizabeth Reusswig filed a complaint
alleging various medical malpractice claims arising out of the hospitalization of the decedent,

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Joseph Alfred Papa ("Mr. Papa") at the Albany Veterans Affairs Medical Center ("Albany VA").1
See Dkt. No. 1. The Court held a bench trial on March 27, 2023, and March 28, 2023. At trial,
the only remaining claim was for medical malpractice arising out of Dr. Dianna Langdon's use of
a GlideScope, a video laryngoscope, during Mr. Papa's intubation on July 22, 2015. See Dkt.
Nos. 59, 70; Pls.' Ex. 8. Plaintiffs Matthew Joseph Papa and Elizabeth Marie Reusswig testified,
and the parties stipulated to the admission of the transcript of videotaped testimony of Plaintiffs'
expert witness Dr. Robert W. Irwin. The Government called Dr. Langdon,2 and expert witness
Dr. Vivek Moitra, the division chief of critical care medicine at Columbia University Medical
Center.
Having reviewed the parties' pre-trial submissions, the trial transcript and exhibits, and the
parties post-trial briefs, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.
II. FINDINGS OF FACT3
A.

The Parties and Jurisdiction
1. Plaintiff Matthew Joseph Papa is a resident of Albany, New York. See Tr. 3/27 at 13. He
is Mr. Papa's son. See id.
2. Plaintiff Elizabeth Marie Reusswig is a resident of Pennsylvania. See id. at 89. She is Mr.
Papa's daughter. See id. at 13.

1

On December 28, 2020, Emma Papa was terminated as a plaintiff from the action, and the
claims specific to her relationship with Mr. Papa were dismissed. See Dkt. No. 44; Dkt. No. 1 at
¶¶ 66-72.
2
Dr. Langdon was a senior emergency medicine attending in July 2015, and is currently chief of
the emergency department at the Albany VA.
3
Prior to trial, the parties submitted a Joint Pre-Trial Stipulation, which contained certain
stipulated jurisdictional and undisputed facts. See Dkt. No. 71. The Court's findings of fact are
derived both from the parties' stipulated facts and the Court's findings based upon the trial
transcript and exhibits.
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3. Defendant United States of America owns and operates the Albany VA.
4. Plaintiffs sued the United States of America pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28
U.S.C. §§ 1346, 2671. This Court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331,
1346(b)(1).
B.

Medical History
5. Mr. Papa's medical history included: coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, type
II diabetes, hypertension, gastritis, nephrolithiasis, stage IIIa chronic kidney disease,
chronic mycrocytic anemia, recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding, and chronic blood loss
anemia, which required recurrent blood transfusions. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 18; Tr. 3/27 at
71.
6. Mr. Papa was treated in March 2015 at the Albany VA with blood transfusions and had "a
couple periods" of inpatient hospital stays during the spring of 2015. See Tr. 3/27 at 1617, 48-49.
7. Mr. Papa did not have upper teeth. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 35.
8. Mr. Papa was not on dialysis prior to July 22, 2015. See Tr. 3/27 at 47.
9. Mr. Papa was 86 years old on July 22, 2015. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 17.

C.

Emergency Department ("ED") Arrival
10. Plaintiff Matthew Papa testified that Mr. Papa's health on July 21, 2015, seemed "fine."
See Tr. 3/27 at 18.
11. Elizabeth Reusswig described Mr. Papa's health as "pretty normal" in the week prior to
July 22, 2015. See id. at 48.

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12. Plaintiff Elizabeth Reusswig spent July 22, 2015, with Mr. Papa, and had seen him
roughly every day during the week prior. During those visits, they would eat, and discuss
and research assisted living centers for Mr. Papa and Emma Papa. See id. at 47.
13. Mr. Papa and Plaintiff Reusswig had lunch together on July 22, 2015, and spent the
afternoon together until 8:00 p.m. Plaintiff Reusswig believed Mr. Papa seemed tired but
otherwise normal. See id. at 49.
14. At approximately 10:00 p.m. on July 22, 2015, Mr. Papa called Plaintiff Matthew Papa
while Plaintiff Matthew Papa was with Plaintiff Reusswig. Mr. Papa told Plaintiff
Matthew Papa that he was not feeling well, and Plaintiff Matthew Papa testified that he
picked up Mr. Papa and drove him to the Albany VA emergency department. See id. at
18-19, 50. Plaintiff Reusswig arrived at the hospital around an hour and a half later. See
id. at 50.
15. There is a discrepancy as to whether Mr. Papa arrived by ambulance or whether Plaintiff
Matthew Papa drove him. Compare Dkt. No. 71 ¶ 18 with Tr. 3/27 at 50.
16. Mr. Papa told Plaintiff Matthew Papa that he was experiencing chest pain and pressure.
See Tr. 3/27 at 18-19.
17. Mr. Papa arrived at the emergency department at approximately 11:06 p.m. and
"complained of shortness of breath and mid-sternal chest pain." Dkt. No. 71 at ¶¶ 16, 20.
18. Mr. Papa was placed on a cardiac monitor and a non-rebreather 100 percent facemask,
received an EKG, two IV lines, and had blood drawn. See Tr. 3/27 at 72.
19. Mr. Papa's oxygen saturation levels dropped to the mid-seventies while supplemental
oxygen was being administered with a 100 percent oxygen non-rebreather mask. See Dkt.
No. 71 at ¶ 23; Tr. 3/28 at 15.

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20. Mr. Papa's blood pressure was ninety-six over fifty-seven. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 21.
21. Mr. Papa was in critical condition from shock and acute respiratory failure, see id. at ¶ 24,
and had a low oxygen saturation of eighty-five percent, an elevated respiratory rate of
thirty-eight, rhonchi in his lungs, and labored breathing. See id. at ¶ 22; Tr. 3/27 at 72-73.
22. A portable chest x-ray showed a pulmonary edema with bilateral pleural effusions and
increased pulmonary vascular congestion. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 25.
D.

Intubation
23. At approximately 11:07 p.m. on July 22, 2015, Dr. Dianna Langdon, the attending
physician for the department that evening, evaluated Mr. Papa. See id. at ¶ 26; Tr. 3/27 at
69.
24. Dr. Langdon noted mottled skin and extremities and labored breathing. Mr. Papa stated he
was experiencing chest pain and other issues. See Tr. 3/27 at 73.
25. Nursing staff and respiratory therapy staff were with Dr. Langdon at Mr. Papa's bedside.
See id. at 72.
26. Dr. Langdon received a verbal consent for intubation and blood transfusion by medical
proxy from Matthew Papa. See id. at 98.
27. Plaintiffs waited in the waiting room. See id. at 20.4
28. Due to an impending respiratory failure, Dr. Langdon performed an emergent intubation at
11:35 p.m. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶¶ 27-29; Tr. 3/27 at 87.
29. Dr. Langdon used a size eight cuffed, or an eight-millimeter, endotracheal ("ET") tube for
the intubation. See Tr. 3/27 at 82; Dkt. No. 71 at ¶¶ 38, 40.

4

Initially, Emma Papa and Plaintiff Matthew Papa were the only family members at the hospital.
After some time, Plaintiff Reusswig arrived. See id. at 20-21.
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30. Dr. Langdon intubated Mr. Papa with a GlideScope, which is a type of video
laryngoscope. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 34.
31. GlideScopes have plastic handles used for intubation. See Tr. 3/27 at 76. In 2015, the
GlideScope handle had a clear non-soft, or hard, plastic and had plastic covers to go over
the camera. See id. at 77, 81. The plastic covers were disposable, while the camera
portion was not. See id. at 77.
32. The parties agree that the intubation was medically necessary. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 28.
33. The parties agree that the pre-procedure assessment was appropriate. See id. at ¶ 30.
34. The parties agree that Mr. Papa was properly placed for the intubation procedure. See id.
at ¶ 31.
35. The parties agree that the pre-procedure medication was appropriate and necessary. See
id. at ¶ 32.
36. Dr. Langdon's intubation practice at the time included preparing the area with the patient's
head at the top of the stretcher, with the chest elevated, and positioning the head for the
best visualization for intubation. Dr. Langdon would use a video laryngoscope and a
standard intubation kit, including an ET tube with a syringe and a stylet. The staff would
prepare the equipment and medications, as well as preoxygenation. The patient would
then be sedated. See Tr. 3/27 at 74-75.
37. Following that, Dr. Langdon testified that "[o]nce you have a patient positioned, you enter
the oral pharynx with the blunted tip of the GlideScope handle. You enter at the base of
the tongue. As the tip traverses the tongue, it lands into the vallecula. And then once the
tongue is cradled in the handle and seated in the vallecula, with an upward and outward,
up towards the ceiling at a 45-degree angle, it is lifted, which lifts the entire tongue and

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the vallecula where there is a hyoepiglottic ligament that pulls up the epiglottis so that you
can have a clear view of the vocal cords. Once you have a clear view of the vocal cords,
you would take your ET tube and pass it with direct visualization through the vocal cords.
Once through the vocal cords, you would remove the handle and inflate the cuff. You
would use the Ambu bag to confirm—actually, sorry. You would pass the vocal cords,
the ET tube through the vocal cords. You would remove the stylet. You would inflate the
balloon. You would use a colorimetric meter and end-tidal CO2 to confirm detection of
carbon dioxide. Then you would inflate the lungs to note the bilateral rise of the chest
wall and clear breath sounds and increasing oxygenation … Once the endotracheal tube
has passed the vocal cords and you inflate the cuff, end-tidal CO2 again is checked for
confirmation, and then you would inflate the lungs with the Ambu bag and confirm
bilateral breath sounds and oxygenation elevation. At this point, I would have RT secure
the tube." Id. at 84-85.
38. During the laryngoscopy for the intubation, Dr. Langdon used the Cormak-Lehane scaling
system to classify the degree of visualization of the vocal cords. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 36.
39. Dr. Langdon classified her view of the vocal cords as Grade I on the Cormack-Lehane
Scale. See id. at ¶ 37. She had complete visualization of the vocal cords. Tr. 3/27 at 88.
40. Dr. Langdon completed the intubation on the first attempt. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 39.
41. The ET tube remained in place after Dr. Langdon inserted it. See id. at ¶ 40.
42. There was a mouthpiece connected to the ET tube, which remained attached until a few
days later. See Tr. 3/27 at 52.

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43. Uncomplicated intubations generally take ten-to-fifteen seconds to pass the ET tube. See
id. at 85-86. The GlideScope in an uncomplicated intubation is in the oral cavity for
approximately ten to fifteen seconds. See id. at 86.
44. The VA requires present staff members to make intubation notes for quality assurance,
including notes of complications. See id. at 86, 88, 104. Dr. Langdon testified that if she
subsequently learns of a complication she does not go back and amend or supplement the
records. See id. at 103.
45. Dr. Langdon noted that the intubation did not have any complications. See id. at 88.
46. Generally during intubation, the GlideScope handle does not touch the tip of a patient's
tongue. See id. at 86.
47. Dr. Langdon is not aware of any instances of a patient's tongue being injured by a plastic
GlideScope during an intubation during her twenty-four-year career. See id. at 89.
48. After the intubation, Mr. Papa was connected to a ventilator, and his oxygen saturations
were in the range of ninety-eight to one hundred percent. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 41.
49. Dr. Langdon ordered a blood transfusion, which began at 11:45 p.m. See id. at ¶ 42.
50. By 12:29 a.m. on July 23, 2015, Mr. Papa's blood pressure dropped to seventy-nine over
forty-seven. See id. at ¶ 43.
51. By 1:00 a.m. on July 23, 2015, Mr. Papa's blood pressure dropped to 65/37. See id. at ¶
44.
52. An emergent central line was placed at approximately 2:30 a.m. on July 23, 2015. See id.
at ¶ 45.
53. Mr. Papa was sedated and unarousable when the central line was placed. See id. at ¶ 46.

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54. Mr. Papa was in the emergency department for a total of about two and a half hours and
was then moved to the intensive care unit. See id. at ¶¶ 16, 47; Tr. 3/27 at 89.
E.

Medical Intensive Care Unit
55. At approximately 1:35 a.m. on July 23, 2015, Mr. Papa was admitted to the medical
intensive care unit ("ICU") in critical condition. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶¶ 47, 49; Tr. 3/27 at
89. The ET tube from intubation remained in his mouth. See Tr. 3/27 at 89.
56. Dr. Langdon was no longer Mr. Papa's physician upon admission to the ICU. See Dkt.
No. 71 at ¶ 48.
57. Upon admission to the ICU, he was in critical condition and diagnosed with cardiogenic
shock, respiratory failure, dropping hematocrit, acute chronic kidney injury, liver shock,
metabolic acidosis, and hyperkalemia. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 49.
58. Mr. Papa was also hemodynamically unstable, and his heart rate was documented in the
thirties and low blood pressures, which required treatment with vasopressors. See id. at ¶
50.
59. Plaintiff Matthew Papa, Emma Papa, and Plaintiff Reusswig were called to the ICU at
approximately 2:00 a.m., where they were given the status of Mr. Papa's condition and
saw him for a short amount of time. See id. at ¶ 51; Tr. 3/27 at 50. About an hour and a
half later, the family saw Mr. Papa when he was stabilized, sedated, and intubated. See
Tr. 3/27 at 51.
60. Mr. Papa was unconscious in the ICU when his family members were allowed to visit
him. See id. at 23.

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61. The family was informed that his prognosis was poor, see Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 51, and
Plaintiff Matthew Papa testified that a hospital representative told the family members that
Mr. Papa would not likely survive. See Tr. 3/27 at 21.
62. Plaintiff Matthew Papa did not leave between July 22 and July 23, see id. at 29, spent the
entirety of July 23, 2015, at the hospital, and most of that day with Mr. Papa. See id. at
25.
63. Plaintiff Reusswig visited her father every day from his admission until the day before Mr.
Papa's death for eight to twelve hours a day and would look at his tongue every day. See
id. at 55.
64. Plaintiff Reusswig noted discoloration of Mr. Papa's tongue on the morning of July 23,
2015, about six or seven hours after arriving at the hospital. She noted the top of his
tongue was darkened and appeared to be scabbing, and Plaintiff Matthew Papa then
noticed some black discoloration on the tongue. See id. at 26, 53.
65. At 12:33 p.m. on July 23, 2015, nephrologist Dr. George Soryal evaluated Mr. Papa and
reported no oral lesions. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶¶ 52-53.
66. On July 23, 2015, Dr. Stuart Curtis, an ENT ("ear, nose, throat") resident, told Plaintiff
Matthew Papa that he believed Mr. Papa bit his tongue during intubation. See Tr. 3/27 at
64.
67. Dr. Curtis was not present during the intubation. See Tr. 3/27 at 39.
68. The eschar at the tip of Mr. Papa's tongue is not consistent with a bite injury. See Dkt. No.
71 at ¶ 62.
69. Matthew Papa testified that over the next few days "[t]here would be periods where he
was—his heart rate would be going up very high. He'd be thrashing around in the bed

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uncomfortably and moaning, making noises, but not conscious and speaking." Tr. 3/27 at
26.
70. Mr. Papa indicated he was in pain by grimacing, nodding his head, and thrashing. See id.
at 55.
71. Plaintiff Matthew Papa noted that his father's tongue "looked bad" over the course of the
hospital stay, and he witnessed nurses tending to it. Matthew Papa explained that the
tongue "continued to get worse, and it got darker and more black, and then parts of his
tongue fell off." Id. at 27-28.
72. On July 24, 2015, at 1:53 a.m., a nurse noted bruising on Mr. Papa's arms, abdomen, right
hip, and tongue. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 54; Pls.' Ex. 2.23.
73. At 1:37 a.m. on July 25, 2015, Paulette Furdyna, a registered nurse, documented the
following information on a "Pain Note": "Patient/resident has experienced the following
recent painful procedures or events which may have caused pain or discomfort:
intubation," and there was evidence of grimacing. Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 55.
74. On July 25, 2015, at 2:43 a.m., an ICU staff member described Mr. Papa's tongue in a note
as "bruised and dry, slightly swollen." Id. at ¶ 56; Pls.' Ex. 2.2.
75. On July 25, 2015, at 11:00 a.m., a resident noted a one-centimeter hematoma on the left
side of Mr. Papa's tongue. See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 58. He was also noted as having bruising
on both arms, his left abdomen, tongue, and right hip. See id. at ¶ 59.
76. Mr. Papa was prescribed fentanyl. See id. at ¶ 57.
77. On July 29, an attempt was made to extubate Mr. Papa, but due to swelling in the upper
airway preventing his breathing, Mr. Papa was re-intubated that day. See id. at ¶ 65.

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78. On July 30, 2015, Dr. Curtis noted the presence of a five-by-three-centimeter black eschar
on the tip of Mr. Papa's tongue that extended to the left and posterior area and did not have
signs of infection. See id. at ¶¶ 60-61.
79. On August 3, 2015, Dr. Curtis noted that the eschar appeared "to be close to sloughing
off" and the tongue otherwise appeared healthy. Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 63.
80. Plaintiff Reusswig noticed the darkened area of the tongue became very black over the
course of the hospital stay. The tongue skin would "slough off" and then approximately
the front quarter of the tongue fell off. See Tr. 3/27 at 54.
81. On August 18, 2015, Dr. Curtis noted during a physical exam that Mr. Papa's tongue was
"lacerated and necrotic." Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 64.
82. During his hospitalization, Mr. Papa appeared agitated or tense, and his blood pressure
and heart rate elevated, which Plaintiff Matthew Papa attributes to Mr. Papa being in pain.
See Tr. 3/27 at 32.
83. During his hospitalization, Mr. Papa developed pulmonary emboli and necrosis of the
kidneys which progressed to end stage renal disease and required treatment with dialysis.
See Dkt. No. 71 at ¶ 66; Tr. 3/28 at 129, 139.
84. During his hospitalization, Mr. Papa was diagnosed with anemia, which required
treatment with blood transfusions. See id. at ¶ 68.
85. Mr. Papa also developed liver failure related to shock. See id. at ¶ 69.
86. On August 31, 2015, upon the request of his family, Mr. Papa was removed from the
ventilator and transitioned to palliative care. See id. at ¶ 70.
87. After extubation, Mr. Papa did not speak but did make noises. See Tr. 3/27 at 42.

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88. Plaintiff Matthew Papa took approximately three pictures of Mr. Papa's tongue around the
last week of August after Mr. Papa was extubated. See id. at 30, 33.
89. Mr. Papa could not speak between being intubated and his final extubation, but did
communicate in other physical ways, such as by nodding. See id. at 30.
90. After his extubation, Mr. Papa was cognitive, and he would respond to questions by
nodding, shaking his head, or moving his hands. Mr. Papa could not speak but attempted
to do so. See id. at 57-58.
91. Mr. Papa was sedated on and off in August, see id. at 58, and was consciously awake
approximately half of the time during August and the beginning of September. See id. at
59.
92. Nursing staff would switch the position of the ET tube. See id. at 31.
93. On September 3, 2015, Mr. Papa's mental status was documented as "awake." See Dkt.
No. 71 at ¶ 71.
94. On September 4, 2015, a note in the medical record states Mr. Papa was "awake, alert, and
seated upright in bed." Id. at ¶ 72.
95. On September 4, 2015, a speech-language pathologist documented that there was an "area
of erosion of anterior 1/3 of tongue with patch of excoriation palate," but Mr. Papa could
"generate some social speech," though it was intelligible. Id. at ¶¶ 73-74.
96. On September 4, 2015, Mr. Papa was prescribed fentanyl injections of "12.5 mcg/0.25 ml
IV" every four hours for pain or agitation. Id. at ¶ 75.
97. A September 4, 2015, record documented that Mr. Papa had a perirectal skin ulcer. Id. at
¶ 76.
98. Mr. Papa died on September 8, 2015, while a patient at the Albany VA. See id. at ¶ 77.

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F.

Personal History
99. Mr. Papa was the father of three children: Matthew Joseph Papa, a real estate broker,
Mark Papa, and Elizabeth Reusswig, a business consultant.
100. At the time of his death, Mr. Papa was married to Emma Papa, who now lives in an
assisted living center. See Tr. 3/27 at 13-14.
101. In the spring of 2015, Mr. Papa saw Plaintiff Matthew Papa approximately five or six
days per week. See id. at 16.
102. In the spring and summer of 2015, Plaintiff Elizabeth Reusswig saw Mr. Papa about once
or twice a month and saw him more often in July after Mr. Papa's hospitalization. See id.
at 46-47.
103. At the time of his death, Mr. Papa lived on New Scotland Avenue with Emma Papa. See
id. at 18-19.
104. Mr. Papa served as a marine in the Korean War. See id. at 14.
105. Mr. Papa worked various jobs throughout his life, including at Barnes & Noble, Coulson's
newsstand, and as an insurance seller. See id.
106. Mr. Papa did not have a will. See id. at 18.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

A.

Legal Standard
"In a bench trial such as this, it is the Court's job to weigh the evidence, assess credibility,

and rule on the facts as they are presented." Bahrami v. Ketabchi, No. 05-CV-3829, 2009 WL
513790, *9 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 2009) (quoting Johnson-McClean Techs. v. Millennium Info. Tech.
Grp., No. 02-CV-244, 2003 WL 192175, *8 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 27, 2003) (internal quotation marks
and alterations omitted)); see also Mathie v. Fries, 121 F.3d 808, 811-12 (2d Cir. 1997). "The

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Court [is] 'in the best position to evaluate [each] witness's demeanor and tone of voice as well as
other mannerisms that bear heavily on one's belief in what the witness says.'" Bahrami, 2009 WL
513790, at *9 (quoting Donato v. Plainview–Old Bethpage Cent. Sch. Dist., 96 F.3d 623, 634 (2d
Cir. 1996)); see also Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 575 (1985) (noting that
"only the trial judge can be aware of the variations in demeanor and tone of voice that bear so
heavily on the listener's understanding of and belief in what is said"). If the "evidence is equally
divided ... 'the party with the burden of proof loses.'" Bahrami, 2009 WL 513790, at *9 (quoting
United States v. Gigante, 39 F.3d 42, 47 (2d Cir. 1994)); see also Fulop v. Malev Hungarian
Airlines, 244 F. Supp. 2d 217, 223 (S.D.N.Y. 2003) (finding that "[t]he evidence on this issue is
substantially divided and, in the Court's assessment, does not tilt sufficiently to Plaintiff's case to
satisfy the preponderance standard").
B.

Analysis
The FTCA empowers the federal district courts with the "exclusive jurisdiction of civil

actions on claims against the United States, for money damages, ... for injury or loss of property,
or personal injury or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any employee
of the Government …" 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1). For there to be liability, the employee's act must
have taken place "while acting within the scope of his [or her] office or employment, under
circumstances where the United States, if a private person, would be liable to the claimant in
accordance with the law of the place where the act or omission occurred." See id. The language,
"the law of the place," means that the courts must apply "the whole law of the State" in which the
alleged negligent acts occurred. Richards v. United States, 369 U.S. 1, 11 (1962).
"Under New York law, a medical malpractice plaintiff must prove '(1) that the defendant
breached the standard of care in the community, and (2) that the breach proximately caused the

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plaintiff's injuries.'" Stelman v. United States, No. 14-CV-5363, 2016 WL 5315196, *12
(S.D.N.Y. Sept. 21, 2016) (quoting Arkin v. Gittleson, 32 F.3d 658, 664 (2d Cir. 1994)).
Additionally, "'except as to matters within the ordinary experience and knowledge of laymen,' an
expert medical opinion 'is required to make out both of these elements.'" Id. (quoting Milano v.
Freed, 64 F.3d 91, 95 (2d Cir. 1995)).
The Second Circuit has provided the following guidance regarding the standard of care:
A physician's obligations to his patient are to possess at least the
degree of knowledge and skill possessed by the average member of
the medical profession in the community in which he practices, to
exercise ordinary and reasonable care in the application of that
professional knowledge and skill, and to use his best judgment in
the application of his knowledge and skill.
Sitts v. United States, 811 F.2d 736, 740 (2d Cir. 1987). As for the standard of care, Plaintiffs and
Defendant stipulated to the following: it was medically necessary to intubate Mr. Papa, see Dkt.
No. 71 at ¶ 28, the pre-procedure assessment was appropriate, see id. at ¶ 30, Mr. Papa was
properly placed for the intubation procedure, see id. at ¶ 31, and the pre-procedure medication
was appropriate. See id. at ¶ 33.
For Plaintiffs, Dr. Irwin, a retired pulmonologist, provided expert testimony. See Pls.' Ex.
1. Dr. Irwin has personally been present at, while watching or performing, hundreds of
intubations. See id. at 13. Dr. Irwin's report made in preparation for trial found that the "injury to
the tongue" was evidence of a deviation from the standard of care during intubation as there was
"no other bona fide explanation for the" resulting necrosis,5 id. at 42; Tr. 3/28 at 29,6 and that the

5

Dr. Irwin explained that a bruise on tissue can take time to form, see Pls.' Ex. 1 at 44, and the
process of Mr. Papa's tongue injury was from hematoma, to forming an eschar, and then necrosis.
See id. at 43.
6
Dr. Irwin's report contained several inaccuracies that he amended at his deposition. See Pls.' Ex.
1 at 62-66. Dr. Irwin also testified that he reviewed some records before completing his report
and some after, see id. at 60, and spent approximately one to two hours reviewing the record and
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intubation process proximately caused the tongue injury. See Pls.' Ex. 1 at 43. Specifically, Dr.
Irwin testified that it was "more likely than not" that the use of the GlideScope caused the tongue
damage, see id. at 42, 52, and that "the negligence would have to do with the pressure from the
GlideScope on the tongue." Id. at 56.
Dr. Irwin testified that there was not any deviation from the standard of care in the
preparation, position, or sedation of Mr. Papa, see id. at 58, that nothing was omitted from the
process, see id. at 56-57, that the intubation was emergent, see id. at 15, and necessary, see id. at
18, and that the placement of the GlideScope was proper. See id. at 50.7 Dr. Irwin testified that
he was unaware of a patient suffering an injury from a laryngoscope during intubation. See id. at
58-59. Dr. Irwin stated that pressure from an ET tube can cause necrosis in a patient with shock,
though he felt it was unlikely in this case.8 See id. at 95. Dr. Irwin testified that a patient with
coagulopathy can develop bruising on different parts of the body, id. at 97, and that Mr. Papa's
other bruising on his abdomen and arms were not caused by medical malpractice or negligence,
but rather was caused by other physiological issues. See id. at 98.
During cross-examination, Dr. Irwin testified that Mr. Papa's blood pressure was
consistent with shock, and though not discussed in his report, that Mr. Papa qualified for a
diagnosis of shock. See Pls.' Ex. 1 at 73. He further testified that (1) shock causes reduced blood
flow and reduced oxygen supply, see id. at 77; (2) an injury can occur when an organ's cells do
not receive enough oxygen, see id. at 79; (3) lack of blood supply can cause necrosis, see id.; (4)

signing the report prepared by Plaintiffs' attorneys. See id. at 61. Dr. Irwin had not reviewed Dr.
Langdon's intubation note when he signed the report and prepared for his deposition. See id. at
68. He did not know when the bruise developed when he testified at his deposition. See id.
7
Dr. Irwin testified that the later management of his tongue injury was proper. See id. at 64.
8
Dr. Irwin did not elaborate further on this cross-examination testimony as to why he formed the
opinion that it was unlikely that the ET tube caused this injury.
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shock can cause organ damage, see id. at 80; (5) Mr. Papa's kidneys were impaired and required
dialysis, see id. at 84; (6) shock contributed to injuries of the kidneys, see id. at 83-84; (7)
malpractice did not cause Mr. Papa's kidney injuries, see id. at 85; (8) shock contributed to Mr.
Papa's liver injury, see id. at 86; (9) liver disease can affect the body's ability to clot, and can
cause bleeding or bruising, see id.; and (10) vasopressors cause ischemia in extremities and skin
breakdown. See id. at 88.
The Government's medical expert Dr. Vivek Moitra, the Division Chief of Critical Care
Medicine and the Co-Medical Director of the ICU at Columbia University Medical Center,
contradicted Dr. Irwin's original opinion of negligence being the only possible cause of Mr. Papa's
tongue necrosis. See Tr. 3/28 at 114. His opinion is based on his own experience, which includes
practicing anesthesiology for more than twenty years and performing thousands of intubations,
see Tr. 3/28 at 4, as well as the general knowledge of the medical community, and reviewing the
record. See id. at 13, 24, 35-36. Dr. Moitra testified that Dr. Langdon and the intubation
generally met the standard of care at the time of the procedure, including in the placement of the
ET tube. See id. at 121. He discussed that the typical
process of using the video laryngoscope begins with the initiation
and administration of medications … Once that state is reached, the
clinician – in this case, Dr. Langdon – opens up the mouth. That
allows placement of this tube, and from the screen, you can see that
this tube sort of follows the path of the tongue.
Id. at 7. Then, "this video laryngoscope blade follows the path of the tongue and the oral
pharynx, and the tongue sits right here on top of the video laryngoscope." Id. at 8. Further,
[o]nce the endotracheal tube is placed past the vocal cords, it needs
to sit a few centimeters above the carina. The carina is a portion of
the lung in which the main tubes of the lung split apart. Once that
position is identified, then the tube is traditionally taped, and the
tape is attached to the skin of the mouth.

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Id. "When you first place the endotracheal tube, it is almost inevitable that the tongue will be in
contact with the endotracheal tube because the tongue takes up a significant amount of space
inside the mouth." Id. As to the video laryngoscope equipment, Dr. Moitra testified that it has a
flat surface to distribute the pressure across the tongue, and that the use of video allows the
performing doctor to pass the ET tube through the vocal cords with minimal pressure. See id. at
117.
Dr. Moitra testified that Mr. Papa's tongue necrosis could have been caused by shock, see
id. at 125-126, and low blood perfusion, see id. at 123-24. Dr. Moitra stated that Mr. Papa's low
blood pressure, see id. at 125-26, and multisystem organ failure, see id. at 126, evidenced shock.
Dr. Moitra testified that Mr. Papa's mottled skin, see id. at 123, cyanotic skin, see id. at 124, and
his capillary refill time was abnormally high. See id. at 124. Dr. Moitra testified that Mr. Papa's
metabolic acidosis, based on his PH levels, is consistent with shock, low blood perfusion, and
liver failure. See id. at 132-33. He has made "multiple observations of patients … who
developed tongue necrosis from a shock state," in part related to those patient's requirements of
vasopressors, which Mr. Papa required, which can cause patients to "develop ischemic parts of
[their] body." Id. at 23-25. Dr. Moitra testified that it is "generally known in the medical
community" that shock is "linked" to tongue necrosis. Id. at 24. Dr. Moitra explained that when
a patient goes into shock, multisystem organ failure can result where the body's organs begin to
shut down and do not function appropriately, including tongue necrosis. See id. at 15.
In addition to shock, Dr. Moitra testified that "there are multiple explanations and causes
of ischemic tongue in patients who are critically ill," as Mr. Papa was. Tr. 3/28 at 29-30.9 Dr.

9

In addition to shock and necrosis, Mr. Papa was experiencing cardiac failure, respiratory failure,
see Tr. 3/28 at 126-27, and kidney failure. See id. at 129.
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Moitra has seen a patient develop tongue necrosis in approximately twenty cases, see id. at 24,
and stated that such a condition on those patients who were "in a similar situation" as compared to
Mr. Papa "usually begins at the tip and then extends posteriorly." Id. at 48. Dr. Moitra also
identified coagulopathy,10 which impeded Mr. Papa's ability to form clots, evidenced by bruising
on his body, as most likely a "contributing factor to the tongue necrosis." See id. at 25. Dr.
Moitra also identified that the ET tube could have injured the tongue, which had already been
"compromised with perfusion," id. at 8, 45, and that low blood pressure contributed to the kidney,
liver, and tongue injuries. See id. at 46-48.
Plaintiffs sought to utilize the negligence doctrine of res ipsa loquitur to allow the Court
to infer that negligence occurred, as Dr. Irwin could not identify a specific negligent act causing
the tongue injury. See Pls.' Ex. 1 at 58; Dkt. No. 92 at 6-9. Res ipsa loquitur is "an often
confused and often misused doctrine that enables a jury presented only with circumstantial
evidence to infer negligence simply from the fact that an event happened." St. Paul Fire &
Marine Ins. Co. v. City of N.Y., 907 F.2d 299, 302 (2d Cir. 1990); see also Allstate Ins. Co. v.
Vitality Physicians Grp. Prac. P.C., 537 F. Supp. 3d 533, 554 n.14 (S.D.N.Y. 2021) (quoting
County of Erie v. Colgan Air, Inc., 711 F.3d 147, 149 n.1 (2d Cir. 2013)). For medical
malpractice cases, "[t]o rely on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, a plaintiff must demonstrate that
(1) the injury is of a kind that does not occur in the absence of someone's negligence, (2) the
injury is caused by an agency or instrumentality within the exclusive control of the defendants,
and (3) the injury is not due to any voluntary action on the part of the injured plaintiff."
Malmberg v. United States, 814 F. Supp. 2d 159, 167 (N.D.N.Y. 2011) (citing Simmons v.
Neuman, 50 A.D.3d 666, 667 (2d Dep't 2008) (citations omitted)). "'[T]he doctrine concerns

10

"[A] derangement in [one's] ability to clot." Tr. 3/28 at 25.
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circumstantial evidence which allows, but does not require, the fact finder to infer that the
defendant was negligent … As such, a plaintiff need not eliminate all other possible causes of his
or her injury but only reduce those causes such 'that the greater probability lies at defendant's
door.'" Id. (citations omitted).
However, res ipsa loquitur does not apply where a plaintiff suffers an injury which "is a
normal risk" of a surgical procedure. Cruz v. United States, No. 94-CV-6545, 1998 WL 13839,
*9 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 15, 1998). "New York courts apply res ipsa loquitur 'sparingly' because much
of the medical treatment rendered to patients involves inherent risks which, even with adherence
to the appropriate standard of care, cannot be eliminated." Kennedy v. New York Presbyterian
Hosp., No. 09-CV-6256, 2011 WL 2847839, *3 (S.D.N.Y. July 6, 2011). Under New York law,
some medical malpractice cases that more commonly utilize res ipsa loquitur include where "an
unexplained injury in an area which is remote from the operation occurs while the patient is
anesthetized," Babits v. Vassar Bros. Hosp., 287 A.D.2d 670, 671 (2d Dep't 2001), or where
surgical equipment is left in patients' bodies post-operation. See Dolan v. Jaeger, 285 A.D.2d
844, 847 (3d Dep't 2001); Kambat v. St. Francis Hosp., 89 N.Y.2d 489, 495, 497 (1997); Downs
v. United States, No. 5:06-CV-396, 2009 WL 2611226, *4 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 24, 2009);
Dermatossian v. New York City Transit Auth., 67 N.Y.2d 219, 226 (1986).
Here, the parties agreed that Mr. Papa was in shock when he arrived at the VA, see Dkt.
No. 71 at ¶ 24, and both medical experts agreed that shock, in the absence of negligence, can
cause tongue necrosis. The medical community is generally aware of such a risk, and both parties
agreed it was not negligent to conduct an intubation. Additionally, the injury could have resulted
from the pressure from the ET tube, rather than from a negligent use of the GlideScope during
intubation. As such, since the injury to the tongue was one such injury that occurs without

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negligence, the first factor necessary to utilize res ipsa loquitur is not satisfied. Accordingly, the
application of res ipsa loquitur is inappropriate in this case, and the Court declines to apply the
permissible inference of negligence.
Plaintiffs additionally failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Dr.
Langdon acted negligently in her use of the GlideScope during intubation. Mr. Papa was 86 years
old when he arrived at the Albany VA in critical condition, with a long history of maladies. The
parties agreed that it was medically necessary to intubate Mr. Papa, even though he was in shock.
The experts agreed that Dr. Langdon and other staff members correctly the prepared, positioned,
and sedated Mr. Papa, and that nothing was omitted from the process. The intubation was
routine, emergent, and necessary, and followed the standard of care at the time. The occurrence
of a hematoma leading to necrosis after intubation does not establish that negligence occurred.
Both experts agreed that other physiological occurrences, including shock, can lead to bruising of
organs and other parts of the body, and that negligence did not cause the bruising to other parts of
the body. See Pls.' Ex. 1 at 96-97; Tr. 3/28 at 25. Neither expert has ever seen or heard of such
necrosis caused by a GlideScope during intubation, however both agreed that ET tubes can cause
injuries or trauma to the tongue. The Court found Dr. Moitra's explanations, including
coagulopathy, shock, ET tube trauma, and low blood perfusion, and Dr. Irwin's conditional
concessions, such as liver disease affecting the body's ability to clot and vasopressors causing skin
breakdown, more persuasive than Dr. Irwin's assertion of negligence without a specific accusation
of a negligent act besides alleged pressure from the GlideScope. Accordingly, the Court finds

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that Plaintiffs failed to prove based on the preponderance of the evidence that Dr. Langdon
committed medical malpractice in her use of the GlideScope during Mr. Papa's initial intubation.11
IV. CONCLUSION
After carefully reviewing the parties' pre-trial submissions, the trial transcript and exhibits,
and the parties' post-trial briefs, the applicable law, and for the above-stated reasons, the Court
hereby
ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment in Defendant's favor and close
this case; and the Court further
ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court serve a copy of this Memorandum-Decision and
Order on all parties in accordance with the Local Rules.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: July 19, 2023
Albany, New York

11

Having found Plaintiffs failed to establish the Government's negligence, the Court need not
address proximate cause, nor reach the question of damages.
23