A cancer patient is suing his hospital and surgeons after they allegedly removed the wrong organ during a ruptured appendix operation.
George Piano, 72, was diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent appendectomy at the University of Washington Medical Center last December.
But when the pain persisted after treatment, scans revealed that doctors had removed part of his colon, not his appendix.
The intestinal contents were now leaking into the abdomen, causing an infection and making the pain “much worse” than before the operation.
George Piano, 72, pictured above with his wife Betsy, of Washington state, said doctors removed part of his large colon when the intention was to remove his appendix
Because of the botched operation, he has now had four operations, contracted an infection and had a billiard ball-sized wound in his abdomen that wouldn’t heal for months.
Mr. Piano filed the medical malpractice lawsuit. He is pictured above in the hospital during treatment
According to the lawsuit, the father of two has now undergone four surgeries and had to put himself to sleep in a bag.
He also suffers from constant pain and a billiard ball-sized wound in his abdomen that has not healed for months.
The lawsuit also says the failed surgery forced him to delay cancer treatment.
The former construction worker is seeking damages for medical malpractice from the hospital and its surgeons Nidhi Udyavar and Paul Herman.
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He did not say how much he was seeking, but his attorney, Ed Moore, said similar cases in the past have resulted in payouts of $500,000 to $3 million.
His case was filed in King County Superior Court on December 6 and a trial date has been set for November of next year.
Mr. Speaking about his injuries, Piano, of Lake Forest Park, told KIRO 7 fighting back tears, “It’s been a year of hell. I’m not the person I was when it started.
‘[But] I feel very lucky to be alive.’
He added: “We didn’t want this to happen to anyone else.
“Somebody had to stop it, take responsibility and say this is what happened. “We have to take action to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Mr. Piano said in the lawsuits that he went to the University of Washington Medical Center on Dec. 6 with abdominal pain.
Doctors rushed him to the operating room, but when he returned, he said the pain had already become “much worse”.
A CT scan done two days later revealed that his appendix was still present, but part of his intestines had been removed.
On the day of the examination, he had to undergo another operation to remove his appendix.
Mr. Piano said he spent 53 days in the hospital since the botched surgery, lost 40 pounds and developed anxiety and short-term memory loss.
In court documents, he says the numerous medical problems he suffered “didn’t exist” until he underwent the botched surgery.
Mr. Piano also claimed that he required weekly home physical therapy visits and home health nurse visits to monitor his vital signs.
In the lawsuit, Mr. Piano doctors told him they removed part of his intestines because he was suffering from diverticulitis – a condition in which small pouches form in the wall of the colon and become inflamed.
Mr. Piano and his wife, Betsy, say they now receive weekly physiotherapy visits and home health care visits because of Mr. Piano’s condition
The University of Washington Medical Center said it always strives to provide patients with the best possible care. Pictured above: Mr Klavier during the treatment
A University of Washington spokesperson said, “UW Medicine is committed to providing the best possible care for all of our patients.
“Their safety and well-being is of great importance to us.” We cannot comment on the details of the case.”
When you have appendicitis, the appendix – a small, finger-shaped pouch in the large intestine – becomes inflamed and fills with pus.
To relieve the pain, doctors removed the appendix and discovered that the organ appeared to have no function in the human body.
In cases where the pain is not treated, patients can experience complications, including a ruptured appendix, which can cause a serious infection in the abdomen.
About 250,000 Americans are diagnosed with appendicitis each year, which is usually treated with surgery. It is rarely fatal.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
