Went in for cyst removal surgery, mistakenly left without a bladder

Emily Mitchell went in for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, but surgeons accidentally removed her bladder. A jury in Maine awarded her a record $17 million in damages.

Emily Mitchell, a Maine resident, underwent surgery to remove a benign ovarian cyst, but due to a serious medical error, surgeons inadvertently removed her bladder. After the discovery, she was transferred to another hospital, where it was confirmed that the removed tissue was a full bladder. With no healthy tissue left for reconstruction, Mitchell endured months of suffering with drainage tubes, infections, and finally a complex reconstructive surgery where a new bladder was created from part of her small intestine. A jury in Kennebec County awarded her a record $17 million in damages – the highest in the county's history for medical malpractice. Her attorney stated that the verdict provides closure for the client. Mitchell described the ongoing consequences, including catheterization several times a day.