NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Portland, OR, June 9, 2026 — A pediatric cardiac surgeon at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is facing a $17 million medical malpractice lawsuit after a family alleged that he implanted a prosthetic heart valve upside down during open-heart surgery on their 13-year-old daughter, leaving her fighting for her life.
The lawsuit, filed by Steven and Lori Stokes, names Dr. Ashok Muralidaran, section head of pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at OHSU, and the hospital as defendants.
According to court filings, the girl underwent surgery on August 15, 2025, to replace a damaged heart valve. The complaint alleges that the prosthetic valve was implanted incorrectly, causing severe complications when doctors attempted to restart her heart following the procedure.
The family claims the teenager was subsequently placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a form of life support used when the heart and lungs cannot function adequately on their own. Physicians allegedly informed the parents that their daughter was unlikely to survive and discussed options including a heart transplant, an artificial heart device, and even organ donation.
Despite those warnings, the parents requested that their daughter be transferred to Seattle Children’s Hospital. According to the lawsuit, specialists there conducted additional imaging studies and discovered that the prosthetic valve had been implanted in the wrong orientation.
The complaint alleges that Seattle surgeons replaced the valve, after which the girl’s heart began functioning normally. She ultimately recovered and was discharged after a lengthy hospitalization.
The family is seeking $17 million in damages, including compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. The lawsuit states that medical costs associated with the ordeal exceeded $3.3 million.
Dr. Muralidaran is a nationally recognized pediatric and congenital heart surgeon. Originally from India, he earned his medical degree from Madras Medical College before completing advanced surgical training in the United States, including fellowships at Stanford University and Yale University. He currently serves as the John C. Hursh Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at OHSU.
Neither Dr. Muralidaran nor OHSU has publicly admitted wrongdoing. OHSU has reportedly declined to comment on the allegations because of the pending litigation.
The case has drawn widespread attention because of the seriousness of the allegations and the claim that the alleged surgical error remained undetected until the patient was transferred to another hospital.
The lawsuit remains pending, and the allegations have not been proven in court. No findings of liability have been made against Dr. Muralidaran or OHSU.
Cover photo courtesy: https://ohsufoundation.org/.
