Medical Malpractice – Confidential Settlement Approaching Seven Figures (Unnecessary Surgery, Peritonitis)

“Mei Chen” had undergone liver surgery years earlier at a major hospital. During that operation, her gallbladder had also been removed — a fact that was poorly documented and ultimately forgotten.

Fifteen years later, Mei developed abdominal pain. An ultrasound was misread as showing a gallbladder filled with stones. Believing she had gallbladder disease, her physician referred her for surgery. But once the surgeon began the procedure, he discovered there was no gallbladder at all — it had already been removed. By then, the damage had begun.

After the attempted surgery, Mei developed peritonitis, a dangerous abdominal infection caused by a bowel perforation. She required emergency surgery to repair the injury and wash out the infection. Her recovery was painful, prolonged, and left her with lasting physical and emotional scars.

Our investigation revealed two critical failures: her physician never cross-referenced the ultrasound with her surgical history, and the surgeon proceeded without obtaining her prior operative report or confirming the diagnosis. Experts concluded that had either provider performed even a basic confirmation, the surgery never would have taken place — and Mei would have been spared a life-altering complication.

The case resolved for a confidential settlement approaching seven figures, helping to secure Mei’s future care needs and holding her providers accountable for preventable errors.

Names and identifying details have been changed to protect client privacy.