In 1997, 4-year-old Harry Donnelly had minor surgery in a New York community hospital to put tubes in his ears and have his adenoids removed -- a common procedure to prevent chronic ear infections. Sometime during surgery, the operating table moved, which resulted in the breathing tube becoming dislodged, causing Harry to go for 36 minutes without oxygen. No warning bells sounded and the anesthesiologist did not notice until it was too late that a monitor had slipped off Harry's pinkie and he had turned blue. Harry died.
A lawsuit was brought by his parents. They settled confidentially.