Spinal Fusion Device Plaintiff May Join Healthcare Providers as Defendants

SEATTLE — A Washington federal judge has allowed the plaintiff in a spinal fusion device case to add three healthcare providers as defendants, ruling that failure to join them might result in separate and redundant actions.

In a Dec. 12 order, Judge Richard A. Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington further found that the plaintiff might be denied complete relief absent joinder, because the defendant device maker may try to assign blame to the additional defendants.

Eric Soptich underwent fusion back surgery on Nov. 3, 2016, during which Dr. Jens Chapman attempted to place …