Dr. Kingsley R Chin and LESS Institute In Court Documents Ruled Innocent of Malpractice in a Miami-Dade Court
December 20, 2022
According to court documents in case No.: 16-029968-CA-31, filed in the circuit court of the 11th judicial circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, FL, the board-certified professor of orthopedic spine surgery, Dr. Kingsley R. Chin, and his employer, the LESS Institute, were exonerated of malpractice allegations brought against them by a patient they had successfully treated. During the legal proceedings, Dr. Chin attentively participated, spending six full days in court while listening to arguments presented by lawyers.
Despite the engagement of expert spine surgeon testimonials on their behalf, the court documents revealed that the jury ultimately rendered a verdict of innocence in favor of Dr. Chin and The LESS Institute. This outcome underscores the validity and quality of the medical care provided by Dr. Chin and the institution he represents in this particular case.
“We appreciate all the patients who trusted our care, and that continue to refer their family and friends to us”
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- Dr. Chin
According to court documents in case No.: 16-029968-CA-31, filed in the circuit court of the 11th judicial circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, FL, Dr. Chin and The LESS Institute faced a lawsuit related to their treatment of a muscular-built adult patient with a grade 1 isthmic spondylolisthesis who had experienced acute back pain following a car accident. The patient's condition was further complicated by a bilateral pars fracture.
As per the court documents, the treatment plan involved a pars fracture repair procedure, employing a Buck's technique that utilized two partially threaded cannulated screws. This technique was supported by published data highlighting its high effectiveness.
The court documents indicated that the patient initially experienced a positive outcome with no post-operative pain. However, at the 10-month mark, an X-ray revealed a fracture of one of the screws. In response, the lawsuit accused Dr. Chin of not opting for a standard lumbar fusion procedure involving interbody cages and pedicle screw instrumentation.
It's important to note that the court documents provided an overview of the case, but the ultimate verdict of innocence suggests that the jury did not find Dr. Chin and The LESS Institute liable for the patient's outcome. Medical malpractice cases can be complex, and their outcomes can vary based on the specific circumstances and the interpretation of medical standards and practices.
"I want to do our best for patients. I have the added problem of a public image that I am wealthy because I am an inventor of medical devices and a business owner. I also carry malpractice insurance. This is the reality I face, but truth be told, I have treated thousands of patients but only a handful of lawsuits, so the majority of my patients are not looking to cash in on my perceived wealth, but some do," Dr. Chin expressed.
"We will continue to offer our patients high-quality healthcare and research new and innovative devices to improve treatment for our patients in the outpatient setting. We invented the less exposure surgery philosophy to offer our patients less surgery over more complicated and risky surgeries commonly done in hospitals," Dr. Chin affirmed, highlighting the commitment to advancing patient care and medical innovation.
Dr. Chin has published over 85 peer-reviewed scientific articles, multiple books, has 50+ patents and many spine devices being used in US and overseas and has travelled worldwide to teach other surgeons the less exposure surgery treatment philosophy using his proven FDA-approved inventions. "We appreciate all the patients who trust our care, and continue to refer their family and friends to us for treatment."