Doctor sued by man whose kidney had to be removed due to surgery complications

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish man is suing a local doctor for complications during an exploratory surgery that resulted in his kidney being removed unnecessarily.

Paul Thieu Nguyen, and wife Michelle, filed suit against Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Company and Dr. Walter E. Levy in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 2.

Nguyen claims he came to the emergency room at East Jefferson Hospital complaining of having blood in his urine for three weeks. The plaintiff alleges that he was placed in the defendant’s care who scheduled an exploratory surgery with the object of removing a potential bladder tumor. Nguyen asserts that during a minimally invasive surgery Levy inserted a scope into his urinary system when a guide wire got caught in his body along with a surgical scope and when Levy tried to pull both pieces of surgical equipment out at the same time it resulted in a torn ureter and required the removal of Nguyen’s kidney. The plaintiff claims that due to the complications the defendant had to revert to a more invasive procedure to repair the damage and that the surgery did not result in the discovery of tumor or the cause of the bloody urine. A week the surgery Nguyen alleges that he was diagnosed with anemia and blood clotting as side effects and that Levy performed another surgery to repair the damage.

The defendant is accused of failing to inspect the patient properly during the procedure, failing to recognize the torn ureter, attempting to introduce faulty equipment into the plaintiff, attempting to simultaneously remove both the scope and guide wire, applying excessive force, failing to obtain informed consent before removing the kidney and denying the option to have kidney saving surgery.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medial expenses, loss of earnings, lost earning capacity, scarring, disfigurement, impairment, disability, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of services.

Nguyen is represented by Harry T. Widmann of Metairie-based Harry T. Widmann & Associates.

The case has been assigned to Division D Judge Scott U. Schlegel.

Case no. 728-568.