Lawyers: Doctor reckless in Seattle surgery that ended in death

Lawyers for a woman who died after her doctor used a bone cement not approved by the Food and Drug Administration during her back surgery plan to tell a judge during opening statements in a lawsuit that the doctor was reckless and committed malpractice.

The lawyers also say Dr. Jens Chapman and the bone cement company Synthes conspired to commit a criminal act by using the bone cement without FDA approval. Instead of going through the regulatory process, the company's executives sent the cement to surgeons to use on patients. One doctor called the plan "human experimentation."

The company and its executives were charged for their actions in federal court, but Chapman used it during Reba Golden's back surgery.

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>> Related: Bone cement business accused of experimenting on humans 

Golden hurt her back after falling two floors while building an addition to her house in Honduras. But when she returned to Seattle for a routine spinal surgery, she suffered blood clots, severe bleeding and died in 2007 on the operating table.

Golden's daughter sued the company and Chapman, who through a spokeswoman has denied any wrongdoing.

Opening statements in the lawsuit began Monday morning.

The Golden and Bryant families have filed lawsuits against Dr. Jens Chapman, the companies, the University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center and Washington state. The lawsuits say Chapman knew the cement caused lethal clotting, and that the university and hospital knew or should have known the product had been prohibited for such use.

Cox Media Group