Don Hutchins was an active 74-year-old plumber, husband, and father. He worked hard in a profession he loved in preparation for the golden years with his wife, Donna. Tragically, this bright future was ripped away when negligent doctors left Don paralyzed.

The emergency room’s failure to act in a timely manner meant Don was sentenced to a lifetime of dependency. Within 24 hours, Donna went from loving partner to full-time caregiver. Instead of fulfilling their retirement dreams, the Hutchins were living out their worst nightmare.

Jason Matzus fought hard for the Hutchins family. He held the hospital accountable and paved a new path for Don and his wife. 

Meet the Hutchins Family

Before his injury, Don’s life was defined by one word: action. Don would work his day job, come home, and continue working around the house or doing pro bono work for his church and neighbors. Don was in perpetual motion, improving the lives of his family members and all who knew him. 

At the time of his injury, Don and Donna had been married for over 50 years. They successfully raised three children together. Don found fulfillment and purpose through part-time work in his trade. Donna was highly involved with her grandkids and enjoyed frequent day trips with Don.

The Diagnosis: Spinal Hematoma

Don underwent a spinal epidural injection in his lumbar spine to control pain after back surgery. The injection caused a hematoma (pooled blood) to form, compressing his spinal cord.1 

When he arrived at the emergency room, Don had all the classic symptoms of spinal compression, including excruciating back pain, tingling, and numbness in his legs. Immediate red flags should have been raised based on Don’s symptoms and knowledge of his recent epidural.

Both the ER doctor and the hospitalist failed to act as Don’s condition deteriorated. “They did nothing, literally nothing, for hours,” explained Jason. “They watched him lose the ability to move and feel his legs and still did nothing.” Don’s providers stood idly by, delaying his MRI until the following morning, when it was too late. 

Both providers were locum tenens doctors who weren’t aware that the hospital didn’t have the capacity to provide the necessary level of care for Don. He should have been transferred immediately. Instead, he was admitted as precious time passed. 

Staffing an ER with transient, temporary employees saves the hospital money. But in this case, it came at an enormous cost to the patient.

By the time the massive hematoma was found on Don’s spinal cord, emergency surgery wasn’t successful. It was too late.

Living in the Aftermath of Medical Neglect

The years after Don’s injury were a stark contrast to his previous life. Don was paralyzed and had bladder and bowel incontinence, forced to spend the rest of his life confined to a wheelchair.

Leaving home for any reason presented a considerable challenge. First, Donna, a petite 74-year-old woman, had to push Don’s wheelchair down a steep outside ramp to the driveway, resisting the momentum to maintain control. Then, she had to position and transfer him into the car, break down the wheelchair, and load it into the trunk. 

Once they reached their destination, Donna had to unload Don and navigate various obstacles, such as non-wheelchair-friendly sidewalks, curbs, door thresholds, and transitions between walking surfaces. Going home meant repeating this process again, sometimes while facing inclement weather and other hardships. Not surprisingly, the Hutchins family avoided going out unless absolutely necessary.

If they were out for more than a couple of hours, Donna had constant anxiety about Don having an “accident.” Changing Don meant Donna had to lay him down in bed on a flat surface, a task that was impossible beyond the privacy of home.

At night, Donna was so concerned about a possible skin breakdown that she turned Don every three hours. She never got a whole night’s sleep. There were no days off or vacations for Donna. In many ways, she lost her sense of self, and her life was consumed by caring for Don.

Paving the Way for a Different Future

The Hutchins family knew this situation was unsustainable. They witnessed the wear and tear on Donna and the erosion of Don’s self-esteem. They created a Life Care Plan, outlining the level of care Don required.

Jason Matzus worked to settle their case after hard-fought litigation. The settlement helped them make necessary home modifications and buy a wheelchair van, providing more freedom to leave the house. Donna’s life was forever changed by Don’s paralysis, but she no longer bore the sole responsibility of his care.

“From the very first time we met Jason in the hospital cafeteria right after this happened, I knew he was going to be perfect just because of his demeanor and how gentle he was with my mom,” said Don’s daughter, Dorie. “This was uncharted territory for us. From the beginning, I felt really confident about Jason’s ability to lead us through.”

You’re Not Alone

Can your family relate to the Hutchins family? Have you been victimized in an emergency room, perhaps due to poorly equipped or uninformed staff?

Stories like Don’s show the true cost of medical negligence. You shouldn’t have to pay the price for someone else’s mistakes.

“We work hard with our clients to develop a game plan to help them navigate these very challenging circumstances,” shared Jason. “We help them regain the ability to move forward and return to leading a meaningful and productive life.”

Do you need a game plan? 

Call (412) 206-5300 for the guidance and support your family needs.

1. Spinal Hematoma. Science Direct. Accessed May 9, 2025.

Anastasia Climan

Written by

Anastasia Climan
Aron Solomon

Fact Checked by

Aron Solomon
Jason

Legally Reviewed by

Jason Matzus

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