NEW ORLEANS – A woman who underwent surgery is suing the neurosurgeon who operated on her and alleging that he left instruments in her post-operation, resulting in pain and subsequent surgery.
Susan Klemetsen filed suit against Dr. Erich O. Richter M.D. and General Star Indemnity Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District on Dec. 5, 2014.
The plaintiff claims that the defendant operated on her with the goal of removing an intrathecal Dilaudid pump and catheter on Feb. 21, 2013 at West Jefferson Medical Center. She asserts that following chronic and unexplained abdominal pain, she visited Ochsner Baptist Hospital on July 22, 2014 and received CT scan results indicating retained instrumentation. She claims that she underwent an operation by another physician at Touro Hospital on Sept. 2, 2014 to remove the instrumentation. This surgery allegedly resulted in the discovery of two pieces of plastic and a metallic pin she claims was left by the defendant.
The plaintiff is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for physical pain and suffering, loss of earning, medical expenses and permanent injury.
The plaintiff is represented by Stephen P. Bruno of New Orleans-based Bruno & Bruno LLP.
This case has been assigned to Div. A Judge Tiffany G. Chase.
Case no. 2014-11602.
New Orleans neurosurgeon sued for allegedly leaving surgical instruments in patient
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