A Kennebec County jury awarded Emily Mitchell $17 million after surgeons at Northern Light Health in Maine mistakenly removed her bladder during a laparoscopic surgery on March 1, 2023. She spent over eight months with nephrostomy tubes, suffered repeated infections, and later underwent complex reconstructive surgery using a segment of her small intestine. Mitchell still requires multiple daily self-catheterizations and ongoing care. The award is intended to cover past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages.
Maine Jury Awards $17M After Surgeons Mistakenly Remove Patient's Bladder During Routine Surgery
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A Kennebec County jury has awarded Emily Mitchell $17 million after finding that surgeons at Northern Light Health in Maine mistakenly removed her bladder during a laparoscopic operation intended to remove a benign ovarian cyst on March 1, 2023.
Following the initial procedure, Mitchell's condition worsened almost immediately and she was rushed to an emergency room. Surgeons there discovered that the original surgical team had removed full-thickness bladder tissue rather than the targeted cyst, leaving insufficient healthy tissue to repair or reconstruct the organ.
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According to a press release from Mitchell's attorneys at Berman & Simmons, she spent more than eight months relying on bilateral nephrostomy tubes to drain urine directly from her kidneys. During that time she experienced repeated urinary tract and kidney infections, endured multiple additional procedures, and suffered significant physical and emotional hardship.
Mitchell was later referred to a Massachusetts hospital where surgeons performed a complex reconstructive operation that used a segment of her small intestine to create a bladder substitute that functions similarly to a normal bladder. Despite the reconstruction, she still requires self-catheterization several times a day and ongoing medical care related to the injury.
'For our clients, this isn't just a legal victory—it's the closure they've needed for a long time,' said attorney Susan A. Faunce. 'This verdict won't undo the pain our clients have endured, but it does offer something they haven't had in a long time: closure.'
The $17 million award, rendered after a two-week medical malpractice trial, is intended to cover past and future medical expenses as well as compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. The verdict acknowledges the severity of the error and the long-term impact on Mitchell's health and daily life.
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