A family whose mother that lived in Louisiana is raising awareness about hospital safety protocols after their mother, Maeola Dortch , died from sepsis complications following what should have been a routine ostomy reversal surgery at Ochsner LSU Monroe.
The 74- year-old grandmother underwent an elective procedure on September 3, 2024, after texting her children days earlier that she was excited to have her ostomy removed. Medical records show that Dr. Henry Zizzi converted the planned laparoscopic surgery to a more invasive laparotomy procedure at 10:04 a.m., though documentation does not indicate why this change was made or note any emergency circumstances.
Within 24 hours of the surgery, Dortch began showing signs of post-operative sepsis. Hospital records detail a troubling timeline: she experienced confusion on September 4, developed a fever of 100.2°F on September 5, and by September 7 showed worsening symptoms with a temperature of 100.9°F and elevated heart rate of 115 beats per minute. WBC high on all these days. She met three SIRS criteria but were ignored.
Despite multiple physicians documenting the need for specimen collection and discussing sepsis risks with the patient, critical delays occurred in implementing treatment. Dr. Dorothy Madison’s notes from September 6 indicate failed attempts to collect specimens at 3:19 a.m. and 4:01 a.m., with continued documentation of collection failures through September 8. These Dr.’s spoke to a woman sick and and in pain about the need for treatment. According to her daughter Donnietha Bradford says she feels if they could speak on the need then they were aware she needed immediate treatment.They failed to act Timely. Every Physician knows or should know time is critical in these matters.
The medical team’s response during what experts call the “golden hour” for sepsis treatment proved inadequate. Research shows that patients have a 90% survival rate when sepsis is treated within six hours, but survival drops by 7.6% for every hour of delay. After 72 hours, mortality rates exceed 70%.
By September 8 at 9:02 p.m., Dortch refused further interventions. 9/9/24 hours later, at 1:00 a.m she was taken for emergency surgery. The records indicate she was started on IV antibiotics. She had an anastomosis leak that went unrecognized. The Dr.’s butchered her again, this time using retention sutures which is a last minute resort when the stomach can no longer close.The infection destroyed her. The family had had enough of the poor treatment, they have videos of their mom saying get me out of here they are trying to kill me. She could hear them talk, plus she had a medical background. The family transferred her to St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe on September 18th fearful yet hopeful. They watched their mother experience pure agony. She died five days later on September 23 from Sepsis related complications.
The case highlights concerning patterns in Louisiana’s medical oversight system. According to the state medical board statistics from 2020-2024, serious disciplinary actions affect only 0.3% of cases annually, averaging 45 cases per year. License revocations remain rare at 8-12 per year, representing just 0.08% per physician, while meaningful penalties occur in less than 1% of cases.
Dortch’s family has filed a complaint with the Louisiana Medical Board and is speaking out to prevent similar tragedies. They note the particular irony that Dr. Zizzi, who performed the September surgery, had also treated Stigler for sepsis in May 2024 when she initially received the ostomy, making him aware of her previous complications.
The family’s advocacy efforts focus on encouraging patients and their loved ones to remain vigilant about medical care, particularly regarding post-surgical monitoring and the rapid progression of sepsis. They emphasize that while medical professionals dedicate their careers to saving lives, systemic failures in implementing established protocols can have devastating consequences.
For families navigating similar medical situations, understanding patient advocacy resources and hospital safety protocols becomes crucial. The Stigler family’s experience underscores the importance of healthcare accountability measures and the need for consistent implementation of sepsis treatment guidelines.
As healthcare systems nationwide grapple with patient safety challenges, the Dortch case serves as a reminder that behind every statistic is a family seeking answers and systemic change. The family continues to honor their mother’s memory by trusting in their faith while pursuing accountability through available legal and regulatory channels.