Parents Of Late 'Jeopardy' Champ Brayden Smith Suing Hospital Where He Died

KEY POINTS

Brayden Smith bagged $115,798 during his five-game run on "Jeopardy!"
He filmed his last appearance on the game show in October 2020
He died on Feb. 5, 2021, after developing a blood clot following colon removal surgery
His parents said his death was "preventable"

Parents of late "Jeopardy!" champion Brayden Smith are suing the hospital where he died over alleged medical malpractice.

Smith died in February 2021 after developing a "preventable" blood clot following colon surgery at Dignity Health and St. Rose Dominican Hospital-San Martin Campus in Nevada a month earlier. His mother, Debbie Smith, confirmed his demise at that time but refused to disclose the cause of his death.

Debbie and her husband, Scott Smith, are now suing Nevada physicians -- Godwin Ofikwu and Irfana Razzaq -- as well as the hospital where their son died, claiming his death was a result of some medical malpractice.

In the Jan. 11 lawsuit obtained by E! News, Brayden's parents described his last days as "a nightmare," saying his death was "preordained by the misconduct of doctors and nurses." According to them, Brayden underwent colon removal surgery on Jan. 15, 2021, at St. Rose Hospital but did not receive some medicine that would help prevent blood clots.

"Brayden was never given heparin or anticoagulants post-surgery which was below the standard of care," they stated in the lawsuit.

Debbie and Scott also said their son developed pulmonary emboli after the surgery until he died on Feb. 5, 2021. They stated that Brayden "suffered severe and extreme physical pain and suffering prior to his death," noting that his passing was a "direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendants."

"This is a very sad case about a young man whose death was preventable," they added in the filing.

The Smith family's attorney, Robert E. Murdock, told E! News Brayden would still be alive had a doctor or a nurse made sure anticoagulants were actually ordered and given to the patient after his surgery.

"But this case is not just about death. Brayden suffered before he died because the hospital, its nurses, and the home health nurse, failed to teach and take care of this young man with a new Ostomy," the attorney added.

The hospital has yet to comment on the pending litigation.

Brayden bagged $115,798 during his five-game run on "Jeopardy!" He filmed his last appearance on the show in October 2020 and was one of the last contestants to play before host Alex Trebek died in November 2020.