‘Negligent Failure’: Family In Disbelief After Atlanta Hospital Lost Piece of Man’s Skull Then Charged Him $19K for a Replacement and ‘Refuse to Accept Responsibility’

An Atlanta man suffered a series of health catastrophes after an alleged mislabeling error at a top-ranked hospital. Fernando Cluster and his wife, Melinda Cluster, are suing Emory University Hospital Midtown for losing a chunk of Fernando’s skull after surgery for a brain bleed. He claims the hospital then turned around and charged him $19,000 for a synthetic replacement piece that caused an infection. According to a complaint that was filed on Aug. 8, the 62-year-old suffered “permanent injuries” that have rendered him unable to work, and he has incurred a mountain of medical debt throughout the ordeal, some $150,000. The couple is seeking damages for negligence, “ongoing physical and emotional pain and suffering, and unnecessary medical bills.” Fernando Cluster lies in bed. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/11 Alive) The trouble began nearly two years ago when Cluster was admitted to the hospital in September 2022 after he passed out and fell his lawyer, Chole Dallair, told Law & Crime. He was diagnosed with a brain bleed and underwent a brain surgery known as decompressive hemicraniectomy, which involved removing a part of his skull — a “bone flap” — that measured 4.7 inches to 5.91 inches, to ease the swelling, court documents...