A Minnesota woman has filed a lawsuit against Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, claiming that she developed a debilitating form of kidney disease after doctors removed an extra organ during what should have been a routine spleen removal surgery.
According to ABC News, the lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiff Wendy Rappaport.
Rappaport, 80, says that she went to Abbott Northwestern in March 2022 for the treatment of a spleen-related condition. But, during what should have been a standard procedure, surgeons removed Rappaport’s left kidney instead of her spleen.
As a result, Rappaport purportedly developed stage 5 kidney disease, the most advanced form of chronic kidney disease, or CKD. Most people with CKD have extraordinarily impaired kidney function, making it difficult for their body to regulate fluids and process waste.
However, while stage 5 kidney disease can typically be treated, it cannot be cured or reversed.
“The wrong organ was removed,” attorney Aaron Lawrence told ABC News.
Lawrence, who is representing Rappaport, said that the mix-up should never have occurred in the first place.
“This never should have happened,” he said. “We hope that Allina takes responsibility for this negligence instead of blaming the victim.”
Allina, or Allina Health System, is the operator of Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
The lawsuit notes that, on March 24, 2022, Rappaport was admitted to Abbott Northwestern for treatment of a suspected spleen abscess or rupture. She took several tests and attended consultations with doctors and scheduled for surgery about four days after her initial visit.
However, Rappaport now claims that, when Dr. Devon Callahan performed the surgery, he inadvertently removed the 80-year-old woman’s left kidney, which was in perfectly good health.
Callahan’s post-procedure notes, on the other hand, allegedly indicate that he had removed an intact spleen. Rappaport was consequently hospitalized for nearly two months, during which time she was diagnosed with conditions including “splenic abscess, left nephrectomy, respiratory failure, left pleural effusion, and diastolic heart failure.”
Rappaport also allegedly developed stage 5 kidney disease as a direct result of the botched procedure and now requires regular dialysis treatment.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $50,000, with Lawrence stating that the actual amount of compensation sough will likely be much higher.
Attorneys for Allina Health have since contested Rappaport’s account, telling ABC News that the filing isn’t necessarily reflective of reality.
“While we do not discuss details of a patient’s care due to privacy laws, the court filings don’t accurately reflect the full picture of the patient’s condition, or the life-saving medical care provided,” an Allina spokesperson said in a statement. “We intend to vigorously defend, in court, the care that was provided.”
Sources
Allina surgeon removed woman’s healthy kidney instead of her spleen, lawsuit alleges
Patient sues Allina Health after surgeon removes wrong organ: Lawsuit
‘Wrong organ was removed’: Surgeon faces lawsuit over alleged kidney removal error
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