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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller shares shocking photo of object she claims surgeons left in her body for FOUR years in new lawsuit
Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit after she claimed she discovered that doctors left a catheter inside her following spinal surgery in 2020. The reality TV star, 59, 'suffered for years' with doctors unable to 'diagnose the source of her pain,' her attorney, Nadine Lewis, exclusively told in a statement on Tuesday. Four years after her spinal surgery in September of 2020, the dance instructor claims she discovered that a catheter had been left inside her abdomen, according to the lawsuit. In her lawsuit, Miller — who was recently snubbed by an A-list pop star — shared a graphic photo of what she alleges in the complaint is 'the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue.' She also included a photo of the 'retained catheter' after it was removed following 'an emergency procedure.' Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, Dr. Hooman Melamed, M.D., and. Dr. Paul Dwan, M.D. for medical malpractice, professional negligence and medical battery. She is seeking damages in the amount of $430,000. A spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai told in a statement: 'Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters. Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patient's medical treatment.' 'However, the care and safety of our patients, staff and visitors are always Cedars-Sinai's top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve.' As per the lawsuit, Miller suffered a severe spinal cord injury in 2018 due to Burkitt Lymphoma, an aggressive and fast-growing cancer, which rendered her paraplegic with a neurogenic bladder. In 2020 she underwent spinal surgery at Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital to treat a condition known as Spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one of the vertebrae slips out of its proper position. She claims in the lawsuit that the surgery was performed by both Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan. She then underwent a second surgery, performed by the same surgical team, in November 2020, as part of her ongoing treatment, according to the complaint. The lawsuit states that in the months and years that followed, 'Miller repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians, including defendants.' Miller claims various physicians 'systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years.' Miller claims in the complaint that 'Dr. Melamed, in particular, attributed her symptoms to post-surgical scar tissue and offered no further investigation, no imaging was ordered, including a failure to examine the site of the pain.' Miller 'repeatedly reported ongoing abdominal pain and discomfort to multiple physicians,' according to her complaint. 'Despite her consistent and persistent complaints, her concerns were dismissed.' 'As a paraplegic woman with a life sentence in a wheelchair, Abby lives with daily pain in the aftermath of her Burkitt Lymphoma diagnosis.' Despite her complaints to 'various physicians', not one of them ordered imaging to locate and diagnose the source of her pain, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit goes on to allege that by 2024, Miller's 'abdominal discomfort had escalated into persistent and debilitating pain, impacting her quality of life on a daily basis.' In June 2024, while seeking care for an unrelated issue at St. John's Hospital, a doctor applied pressure to Miller's abdomen causing her to 'scream very loudly in pain' according to her complaint. 'The affected area of the skin immediately became red, inflamed, and visibly irritated,' as per the lawsuit. Four years after her spinal surgery, Abby discovered that her 'surgeons had left a bright blue catheter inside her abdomen,' according to her complaint. After a dermatologist examined the inflamed area and took a photograph, it 'revealed the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue' states her complaint. Her attorney said in a statement that the 'systemic minimization of women's suffering has had fatal consequences in our society.' 'Abby's case is a chilling reminder: even when women are vocal and visibly in distress, their pain is still not believed.' 'As a paraplegic woman, Abby is advocating for herself and others in a medical system that has repeatedly failed them,' Lewis added. Miller remains in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma in 2018. Last year she bravely opened up about the terrifying moment she nearly died after contracting sepsis from a UTI. The star was left screaming in excruciating pain when her catheter dislodged just days after she wrapped her Abby Lee Spills the Tea tour in the UK in July 2024. It was one of many health battles that Miller, who was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after being convicted of fraud in May 2017, has faced in recent years. One week after being released in May 2018, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and subsequently underwent life-saving surgery to remove a tumor from her spine. Although she is now cancer-free, she was temporarily paralyzed from the neck down and has been confined to a motorized wheelchair for the past six years. When asked by why she feels she has bounced back from multiple ailments, she choked back tears and said: 'I think that I have a lot to do, and I hope when it is my time to go, it will matter that I was.' 'I have a lot more choreography. I have a lot more kids to teach. I have a lot more social awareness about being in a chair.' Abby rose to fame on Lifetime's long-running reality show Dance Moms, which followed an elite youth dance troupe at the Abby Lee Dance Company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which made stars out of Jojo Siwa and Maddie Ziegler.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Low-calorie diet ‘could increase risk of depressive symptoms'
Following a low-calorie diet could increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression, a study suggests. The effects of calorie restriction on mood were more pronounced in men and overweight people, researchers said. The findings contrast previous studies which claim low-calorie diets improve depressive symptoms. However, researchers argue prior trials included tailored and balanced diet programmes that may not be the same as what people realistically follow in everyday life. For the study, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, researchers in Canada used data from the 28,525 people who took part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and had completed a health questionnaire relating to depressive symptoms, which gave them a score based on severity. Of the total, 14,329 were women and 14,196 were men. A little under 8% had reported depressive symptoms, while 33% were overweight and 38% were obese. The majority of the group (87%) said they were not on a specific diet, while 2,206 were restricting calories. Some 859 were on a 'nutrient-restrictive' diet, low in fat, sugar, salt, fibre or carbohydrate, and 631 were on diets tailored for the likes of diabetes. Researchers found low-calorie diets were more common among obese patients and those who were overweight. Questionnaire scores for depressive symptoms, such as a low mood, low energy and sleep disturbances, were higher among those restricting calories compared to those who reported not being on a diet at all. The scores were also higher among overweight people following low-calorie diets. Researchers said: 'Numerous studies have consistently focused on 'healthy' versus 'unhealthy' diets. 'They have shown that 'healthy' diets rich in minimally processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and fish have been linked to a lower risk of depression. 'In contrast, an 'unhealthy' diet dominated by ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, processed meats and sweets is associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. 'Therefore, individuals must adopt a perfectly healthy dietary pattern to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms. This dichotomy fails to capture the complexity of real-world eating habits.' Restricting calories can lead to deficiencies in protein, vitamins and minerals, researchers suggest, which puts the body under stress. The findings also contradict previous studies showing low-calorie diets improve depressive symptoms. Researchers highlight that these studies were controlled trials, with those taking part following carefully designed and balanced diets. The team said a focus on 'idealised diets' can 'overlook the diversity of dietary patterns', adding: 'In contrast, real-life calorie-restricted diets and obesity often result in nutritional deficiencies, particularly in protein, essential vitamins and minerals, and induce physiological stress, which can exacerbate depressive symptomatology including cognitive-affective symptoms.' Researchers stressed the study has a number of limitations, but gives an insight to how diets recommended by healthcare professionals should be considered for risk factors for depression, especially in men and obese patients. Professor Sumantra Ray, chief scientist and executive director of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, which co-owns BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health with BMJ Group, added: 'This study adds to the emerging evidence linking dietary patterns and mental health, raising important questions about whether restrictive diets which are low in nutrients considered beneficial for cognitive health, such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, may precipitate depressive symptoms. 'But the effect sizes are small, with further statistical limitations limiting the generalisability of the findings. Further well designed studies that accurately capture dietary intake and minimise the impact of chance and confounding are needed to continue this important line of inquiry.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Tech Life Data and me
What happens when a company we trust with our most personal data gets into financial trouble ? We hear from a woman who trusted a US company with her genetic information. Also on Tech Life this week, will there be enough electricity for the demands of artificial intelligence ? The International Energy Agency tells us about the challenges of powering the AI boom. And we find out how to grow an island in The Maldives. The tech involved could protect low-lying territories from erosion and rising sea levels. We enjoy reading your messages about the one item of tech you simply can't do without. If you want to tell us about your must-have piece of tech, please get in touch by emailing techlife@ or send us a Whatsapp message or voice memo on +44 330 1230 320. Presenter: Chris Vallance Producer: Tom Quinn Editor: Monica Soriano Image: A scientist holds a DNA sample with the results on a computer screen in a laboratory. Credit: Westend61/Getty Images
