Oregon Family Sues Hospital After Surgeon Implants Heart Valve Upside Down

Oregon Health & Science University and its medical team are facing a lawsuit after a 13-year-old girl's heart valve was mistakenly implanted upside down during surgery in August 2025. The parents of the young patient, Steven and Lori Stokes, have alleged that their daughter spent nearly three weeks critically ill before doctors at Seattle Children's Hospital discovered the error.

According to the legal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, Dr. Ashok Muralidaran, who leads pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at OHSU, performed the initial procedure on the girl. Despite complications during surgery that left her heart unable to restart properly, Dr. Muralidaran reportedly assured the parents that everything had gone well. The patient was placed on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) to support her heart function while she remained in critical condition.

The Stokeses claim that OHSU staff repeatedly told them their daughter's poor health was due to surgical shock, without revealing the true nature of the problem. It wasn't until Seattle Children's Hospital performed additional surgeries and diagnostic tests that they discovered the valve had been incorrectly installed upside down. Once corrected, her heart function improved significantly.

This case highlights serious concerns about medical transparency and patient safety, raising questions about how hospitals communicate critical information to families during emergencies. The lawsuit underscores the need for clear and honest communication between healthcare providers and patients' families in such high-risk situations.