The plaintiff, Linette Nelson, alleged that surgeon Dr. Amy Lightner recommended a series of three surgeries involving her digestive tract…medicalmalpracticelawyers, Minnesota Medical Malpractice Jury Awards $19.8M To Iowa Woman Against Mayo Clinic
The second surgery, which was performed in 2018, involved removal of her rectum, which she alleged was not fully removed by Dr. Lightner and that Dr. Lightner left five to seven centimeters of diseased rectum during the procedure. The plaintiff further alleged that a CT scan showed that a portion of her rectum was still intact after the second surgery, resulting in the third surgery being performed when it was allegedly unsafe to do so.
After the third surgery, the plaintiff alleged that she advised the Mayo Clinic on several occasions that she had pain and was feeling pressure. Before her scheduled follow up appointment with Dr. Lightner, the plaintiff alleged that she was told that Dr. Lightner was no longer at the Mayo Clinic, and they did not know if she would return. She alleged that her care was transferred to another physician.
The plaintiff alleged that she suffered “numerous other medical issues and problems, including severe scarring and disfigurement, pelvic floor disorder, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other medical complications,” despite undergoing three reconstructive surgeries to attempt to repair the harm that Dr. Lightner allegedly caused.
The Minnesota medical malpractice verdict includes $3.7 million for pain and emotional distress, and $12.1 million for her future emotional distress. With interest added to the verdict, the award could be in excess of $27 million.