On 23/7, a jury concluded that Northern Light Inland Hospital was at fault in a surgery that left Emily Mitchell with a permanent disability. Following a 10-day trial, the jury ordered the hospital to compensate Mitchell 15.75 million USD for physical and emotional damages, as well as future medical expenses.
Joshua Mitchell, the patient's husband, was also awarded 1.25 million USD for loss of consortium. The family's total compensation reached 17 million USD.
This verdict marks the largest medical malpractice judgment in Kennebec County, Maine, to date.
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Northern Light Inland Hospital. Photo: WABI |
According to court records, Mitchell underwent laparoscopic surgery in 3/2023 to remove a cyst from her left ovary. However, Doctor Danielle Gagnon erroneously removed nearly all of Mitchell's healthy bladder instead.
The egregious error was only discovered when Mitchell arrived at Eastern Maine Medical Center in severe pain, suffering from severe abdominal distension, and unable to urinate.
Initially, doctors at Eastern Maine Medical Center suspected bladder damage, but further examination revealed a shocking truth: Mitchell's bladder was gone.
Mitchell's legal team stated that for over 8 months, she required a catheter to drain urine directly from her kidneys. During this period, she endured recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney infections, multiple surgeries, and faced various long-term complications.
After determining that the remaining bladder tissue was insufficient for reconstruction, surgeons constructed a new bladder for Mitchell using a segment of her small intestine.
More than 3 years later, Mitchell continues to grapple with recurrent urinary tract infections and will require lifelong medical care as a direct consequence of this severe medical error.
Officials from Northern Light Inland Hospital stated they respect the jury's verdict and expressed sympathy for Mitchell and her family. They affirmed that patient safety remains their highest priority.
Doctor Gagnon is no longer employed by Northern Light Health.
The hospital where the surgery occurred closed last year due to continuous financial losses.
