1) Dana Carvey Bypasses Wrong Artery In 2001, USA Today reported one of the more well known cases of medical malpractice happened to Saturday Night Live alumni, Dana Carvey. Roughly two months after the double bypass operation that was suppose to preserve his life, Mr. Carvey received the news that the surgeon had bypassed one of the wrong arteries. The surgeon, who performed the surgery, stated that it was an honest mistake that occurred due to the unusual positioning of Mr. Carvey’s artery in his heart. Dana Carvey felt quite differently, and subsequently, he filed a $7.5 million lawsuit against the surgeon and the hospital.
Comedian Dana Carvey's heart condition was anything but funny. Several years ago, the former Saturday Night Live star had recurring chest pain from angina, or restricted blood flow to the heart. He underwent three angioplasties to unblock a coronary artery and keep it open. But each operation failed.
Desperate for relief, he underwent a double bypass operation in 1998.
"I kind of thought of it as an advanced plumbing problem," quips Carvey. "They bypass a bad section of rotted out pipe and reconnect using just the good sections."
But the chest pains continued without improvement.
So Carvey went in for another angiogram to find the source of recurring angina. And that's when the problem was discovered. Carvey's surgeon, who had reportedly performed thousands of the operations, had bypassed the wrong artery.
"It was like being in a Ripley's Believe It or Not column," says Carvey. "And finally it struck me, and I was scared and worried — mostly for my family."
He then went through a fourth angioplasty — this time with Dr. P.K. Shah, head of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The procedure was a success.
"Dana was very fortunate despite all he has gone through," says Shah. "Unlike many others with heart episodes he has absolutely no damage to the heart muscle itself. He can do just about anything he wishes."
"Except eat double cheeseburgers with mayonnaise," says Carvey
Comedian Dana Carvey's heart condition was anything but funny. Several years ago, the former Saturday Night Live star had recurring chest pain from angina, or restricted blood flow to the heart. He underwent three angioplasties to unblock a coronary artery and keep it open. But each operation failed. Desperate for relief, he underwent a double bypass operation in 1998. "I kind of thought of it as an advanced plumbing problem," quips Carvey. "They bypass a bad section of rotted out pipe and reconnect using just the good sections." But the chest pains continued without improvement. So Carvey went in for another angiogram to find the source of recurring angina. And that's when the problem was discovered. Carvey's surgeon, who had reportedly performed thousands of the operations, had bypassed the wrong artery. "It was like being in a Ripley's Believe It or Not column," says Carvey. "And finally it struck me, and I was scared and worried — mostly for my family." He then went through a fourth angioplasty — this time with Dr. P.K. Shah, head of cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The procedure was a success. "Dana was very fortunate despite all he has gone through," says Shah. "Unlike many others with heart episodes he has absolutely no damage to the heart muscle itself. He can do just about anything he wishes." "Except eat double cheeseburgers with mayonnaise," says Carvey