South Carolina Lawyer BlogA 67-year-old Ithaca, New York woman was awarded $1.25 million after a jury found her surgeon negligent when a 2007 gallbladder operation left her gravely ill and fighting for her life. The surgeon at Cayuga Medical Center had been practicing for over 15 years when found at fault.
The woman entered the hospital complaining of an upset stomach when she was told her gallbladder needed to be removed. The woman’s bowel was unintentionally cut during surgery, yet the surgeon did not inspect the bowel for injury prior to completing the surgical procedure.
Almost immediately the woman became severely ill, exhibiting multiple signs of infection. 32 hours after the first operation, she was operated on again to find the source of the infection, and then to repair the injured bowel. The woman also underwent four more surgeries, needed a ventilator, and spent two months in the intensive care unit.
The jury found the surgeon negligent in failing to check the woman’s bowel for injury during the gallbladder surgery, and negligent in failing to promptly diagnose the injury, leading to substantial injury. The award included $250,000 for medical, hospital and rehabilitative care, and $1 million for pain and suffering for past and future losses.
$1.25 Million Awarded After Surgeon Was Found Negligent in Gallbladder Surgery
