THE SIDELINES : Pitcher’s Family to Sue Hospital

The family of a University of Florida pitcher who died after routine shoulder surgery has notified Shands Hospital of its intent to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Steve Georgiadis, 19, lapsed into a coma after surgery last March 15 to repair ligament damage to his pitching arm and died two days later.

Attorney Anthony Battaglia, who represents the Georgiadis family, supports his claim with a written opinion of a medical expert who found “reasonable grounds to support a claim for medical malpractice negligence” against the hospital and attending personnel.

Dr. Edward N. Willey, a pathologist, said medical examiner’s records determined that contributing factors in the death could have included over-sedation, inadequate monitoring of the unconscious patient and failure to keep the pitcher’s airway open after surgery.