A woman had a port surgically implanted into her chest to facilitate chemotherapy infusions.
After two sessions, the skin around the impacted area began to swell because a piece of the device had broken off. (Apparently, that "fracture" was attributable to "compression," "pinch off," or "kinking.") But by the time Dr. Michael F. Kerin addressed the problem, the piece had already travelled through the patient's bloodstream and got lodged in her heart.
When the deceased patient's representative later sued Dr. Kerin and the device's manufacturer (for negligence, strict products liability, and failure to provide an appropriate product warning), the company pointed the finger at the physician.
After the New York County Supreme Court denied the manufacturer's request to be let out of the case, the Appellate Division, First Department, agreed there were unresolved questions as to whether the doctor had been properly warned of all the potential complications.
That was some pinch.
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: C. v. C.R. Bard, Inc.