The Calgary Sun is reporting that WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hit Man” Hart is suing the surgeon who operated on his wrist for $1 million.
The lawsuit states that decades ago, Hart injured his right wrist by chipping his scaphoid, one of the eight small bones in the wrist. Two years ago, he visited Dr. Justin Yeung, a plastic surgeon, who advised that he could perform surgery to repair his wrist by partial fusion of the wrist bones.
On November 23, 2015, the former WWE champion underwent wrist surgery at Peter Lougheed Centre under the care of Dr. Yeung. Six weeks later, Hart returned to the hospital to have three pins removed and complained about swelling and pain and told the doctor that his index finger and thumb were numb and didn’t function.
Dr. Yeung advised Hart that he should wait and see how the wrist heals over the next few months but Hart claimed that after subsequent visits – in March, April, and August of 2016 – he still had severe pain and couldn’t move his fingers.
“The defendants were negligent, breached the duties of care they owed to Mr. Hart and breached their agreement with (him),” the lawsuit states. One of the negligence that Hart is accusing the doctor of is regarding a tourniquet on his right arm that was left on too long, such that the circulation of the nerves and tendons to his right thumb and index finger were damaged by a prolonged insufficient supply of oxygen.
“He is unable to participate in his previous recreational and social activities,” the statement of claim states. He is unable to use his right hand to pick up and functionally use objects, including pens, pencils, eating utensils and tools. He is unable to properly dress himself without assistance.”
The Calgary Sun adds that in October, Hart underwent a second surgery in Vancouver but the outcome is not yet known.
