A woman has received a substantial £12 million settlement after surgeons mistakenly removed her bladder in what has been described as an extremely severe surgical error. Emily Mitchell, aged 41, was granted $17 million (£12.79 million) by the Kennebec County Superior Court following the unintended removal of her crucial organ by medical professionals at Northern Light Inland Hospital in Waterville, Maine. The incident occurred when she was undergoing a procedure to extract an ovarian cyst, which led to her being transferred to the Maine Medical Centre due to complications.
Upon further examination, doctors discovered the absence of her bladder, a critical oversight that necessitated Emily to undergo numerous corrective surgeries over the following months. According to her legal representatives at Berman & Simmons, Ms. Mitchell had opted for the surgery after imaging revealed a benign ovarian cyst that had significantly enlarged.
During the operation, the attorneys mentioned that pathology results confirmed the removal of “full-thickness bladder tissue” instead of the cyst. They stated that the surgeons had extracted so much tissue that it was deemed impossible to reconstruct or repair the organ. Subsequently, Ms. Mitchell had to rely on bilateral nephrostomy tubes for eight months, which were utilized to drain urine directly from her kidneys into external bags.
As a consequence, she developed recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney infections, and underwent multiple medical procedures with accompanying complications. Eventually, she underwent surgery in Massachusetts where a neo bladder, fashioned from a section of her small intestine, was implanted.
Nearly three years after the distressing incident, she continues to endure the lasting effects of the injuries, as stated by her legal team. These long-term effects include the need for multiple daily catheter insertions to drain the neobladder and ongoing specialized medical care. Ms. Mitchell successfully pursued legal action against Northern Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Health, resulting in a significant payout following a two-week medical malpractice trial.
The substantial compensation, believed to be the largest in Kennebec County’s history, included allocations of nearly $2 million (£1.5 million) for current and future medical expenses, $6 million (£4.5 million) for pain and suffering, and $8 million (£6.01 million) for permanent injury. Additionally, Ms. Mitchell’s husband, Joshua, received over $1 million (£752,000) for the loss of her care and companionship.
In a statement post-settlement, Attorney Susan A Faunce expressed that it was a comprehensive win for Ms. Mitchell, providing her with the closure she had long sought. She emphasized that the verdict acknowledged the truth of their experience and offered accountability, allowing them to move forward from this chapter of their lives.
