Latest news with #AbbottNorthwestern
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I went for routine surgery and doctors removed the wrong organ... now I require lifelong care
A woman is suing a Minnesota hospital after surgeons allegedly mistakenly removed her healthy kidney during an operation intended to take out her spleen. Wendy Rappaport, 84, now requires dialysis and has been diagnosed with the most severe form of kidney disease because without both functioning kidneys, her body can no longer properly filter waste and excess fluid from her blood. This puts her at risk of life-threatening complications and organ failure, potentially killing her in a matter of years. Rappaport was admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in March 2022 to have her spleen removed due to a ruptured abscess that could cause a severe infection if not treated. Spleen removal surgery is typically a routine, safe, and common procedure often done through small incisions that improve recovery time. But given its close proximity to the kidneys, a precise hand is key. But during the surgery, doctors instead removed her left kidney, leaving the infected body part behind. Doctors did not realize their mistake until taking a CT scan while Rappaport was recovering in the hospital. The scan revealed a space where her kidney should have been, and remaining infected spleen tissue. Rappaport was confined to a hospital bed for two months with stage 5 kidney disease and infection in her spleen. Rappaport was forced to undergo dialysis treatments. For about four hours three times a week, kidney disease patients have to be hooked up to a machine that cycles through the blood removing toxins, a job that failing kidneys cannot do. Rappaport, who has filed a lawsuit against the hospital and her surgeon, Dr Devon Callahan, says the mistake has left her with life-threatening kidney disease and permanent health problems. Her kidney function has sharply declined since the surgery. Medical records show her creatinine levels, a key marker of kidney health, rose from 0.88 before surgery to 3.29 six weeks later — a sign the kidney was failing to properly filter waste from her blood. The lawsuit is alleging medical malpractice and medical battery, accusing Dr Callahn of breaching his duty of care and inflicting permanent damage on Rappaport. Dr Callahan has not publicly commented on the case. Still, Allina Health, which owns the hospital, said the court filings 'don't accurately reflect the full picture of the patient's condition or the life-saving medical care provided.' The hospital said its team provided 'life-saving care,' but medical records show that three days before surgery, Rappaport's kidneys looked normal, with no signs of problems that would require removal. Dr Callahan's notes after surgery said he removed the spleen intact. However, a CT scan later showed her left kidney had been taken out instead, and some spleen tissue was still inside her. A surgeon from the University of Iowa, Dr Isaac Samuel, reviewed Rappaport's records and said this was a medical mistake caused by negligence. He said that Dr Callahan didn't follow standard medical practice and didn't do his job properly, which led to Rappaport's kidney injury and made her existing kidney problems worse. Because of this, she needed more treatment and had to pay a mountain of extra medical bills. Removing the spleen is a fairly common surgery done about 22,000 times a year. The organ sits under the ribs on the upper left side of the belly, just above the kidney, separated by a thin layer of tissue. Doctors remove it for reasons like injury, blood disorders, tumors, or cysts. People can live normally without a spleen. While it plays a role in immune function and blood filtration, other organs like the liver and lymph nodes can compensate for most of its duties after removal. But losing a kidney can cause lifelong problems. The remaining kidney has to work harder, which can lower its function over time. Having only one kidney makes it harder for the body to filter toxins, control blood pressure, and increases the risk of kidney disease later. Rappaport is suing for $50,000 in damages. Allina Health said they plan to strongly defend the care they gave in court.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Allina surgeon removed woman's healthy kidney instead of her spleen, lawsuit alleges
A Twin Cities woman is suing over an alleged medical mistake that she says cost her a healthy left kidney. In a lawsuit filed Friday, Wendy Rappaport of Plymouth accuses the surgeon and the Allina hospital system of medical malpractice and battery. Allina says the court filings "don't accurately reflect the full picture" and intends to fight the suit in court. Rappaport was admitted to Abbott Northwestern in March 2022 and was scheduled for a spleen removal surgery, the lawsuit says. After the doctor recommended the surgery, the suit says he reviewed the risk of procedure with her. The lawsuit says that the doctor performed an open laparotomy procedure, during which Rappaport's "left kidney was removed instead of her spleen." In a post-operative note, the doctor said he removed an intact spleen during the surgery, but a post-operative CT scan showed her left kidney had been removed, and the spleen tissue was still present, the lawsuit says. Before the surgery, a CT scan showed that Rappaport's kidneys were "unremarkable. No suspicious masses, stones, or hydronephrosis," according to the lawsuit. Rappaport did not consent to the removal of her left kidney, documents state. She stayed in the hospital until May 25, 2022 due to complications following the removal of the kidney, the suit says. She also now requires continued treatment, including dialysis, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims the doctor committed medical malpractice and medical battery. The lawsuit accuses him of breaching his duty of care he owed Rappaport and causing permanent, irreversible injury. The Allina health system also faces similar allegations, as the medical professionals involved in the surgery also owed her a duty of care, documents say. Rappaport is seeking at least $50,000 in the case. An affidavit filed by an Iowa City doctor says that the Allina surgeon "deviated from the applicable standard of medical care owed to Ms. Rappaport." Failing to identify the left kidney during the procedure "was a medical mistake" and "one that does not occur in the absence of negligence," he writes. "Allina Health is aware of the lawsuit and has had the case reviewed by medical experts. While we will 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. We intend to vigorously defend, in court, the care that was provided," Allina Health said in a statement. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Rappaport's lawyers said: The Schmidt and Salita Law Team represents Wendy Rappaport for injuries she suffered as a result of the negligent and unnecessary removal of her left kidney. The Defendants were supposed to remove a "sick" spleen but removed the incorrect organ. As a result, Ms. Rappaport suffers not only the loss of her left kidney but also permanent kidney impairment, and she requires specific medical treatment to maintain her ongoing kidney function. This was not the case for Ms. Rappaport prior to the unnecessary kidney removal. On 5/16/2025, we commenced the lawsuit on Ms. Rappaport's behalf seeking fair compensation for her injuries and the future damages she will incur due to the Defendant's medical malpractice and medical battery. The removal of the incorrect organ has and will continue to have a profound and unnecessary impact on her life and health.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Plymouth woman sues surgeon, Allina Health for allegedly removing wrong organ
A Twin Cities woman is suing over an alleged medical mistake that cost her a healthy left kidney. In a lawsuit filed Friday, Wendy Rappaport of Plymouth accuses the surgeon and the Allina hospital system of medical malpractice and battery. She alleges that she was admitted to Abbott Northwestern in March 2022 and was scheduled for a spleen removal surgery. After the doctor recommended the surgery, the lawsuit says he reviewed the risk of procedure with her. Documents say that the doctor performed an open laparotomy procedure, during which Rappaport's "left kidney was removed instead of her spleen." In a post-operative note, the doctor said he removed an intact spleen during the surgery, but a post-operative CT scan showed her left kidney had been removed, and the spleen tissue was still present, the lawsuit says. Before the surgery, a CT scan showed that Rappaport's kidneys were "unremarkable. No suspicious masses, stones, or hydronephrosis," according to the lawsuit. Rappaport did not consent to the removal of her left kidney, documents state. She stayed in the hospital until May 25, 2022 due to complications following the removal of the kidney, the suit says. She also now requires continued treatment, including dialysis. The surgeon faces one count of medical malpractice and one count of medical battery. The lawsuit accuses him of breaching his duty of care he owed Rappaport and causing permanent, irreversible injury. The Allina health system also faces similar allegations, as the medical professionals involved in the surgery also owned her a duty of care, documents say. Rappaport is seeking at least $50,000 in the case. An affidavit filed by an Iowa City doctor says that the Allina surgeon "deviated from the applicable standard of medical care owed to Ms. Rappaport." Failing to identity the left kidney during the procedure "was a medical mistake" and "one that does not occur in the absence of negligence," he writes. "Allina Health is aware of the lawsuit and has had the case reviewed by medical experts. While we will 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. We intend to vigorously defend, in court, the care that was provided," Allina Health said in a statement.
