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LOUISIANA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Patient sues hospital over alleged non-removal of stitches that resulted in complications requiring surgery

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GRETNA – A local hospital and doctor are being sued by a woman who claims they negligently left permanent stitches in her following a surgery that were not discovered until nearly there years later and required subsequent surgery to remove.

Penny Weeks filed suit against Jefferson Parish Hospital Service District No. 2, East Jefferson General Hospital and Kathleen Sullivan M.D. in the 24th Judicial District Court on May 5.

Weeks claims that on Nov. 17, 2009 she underwent a hysterectomy at East Jefferson General Hospital. The plaintiff alleges that as part of the surgery Sullivan ordered absorbable sutures, but that East Jefferson General Hospital employees were unable to locate absorbable sutures and instead provided her with permanent non-absorbable sutures. Weeks contends that Sullivan was unaware that the sutures she requested were unavailable and subsequent to the surgery notified Weeks that the regular sutures she used would absorb into her body and not need to be removed.

The plaintiff clams the defendants were negligent for inserting the non-absorbable sutures into her body without her knowledge and leaving them in place until she suffered from complications and the sutures were discovered nearly three years later. Weeks claims she had to undergo further surgery to have the sutures removed.

The defendant is accused of medical malpractice.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, fear, anxiety, loss of quality of life, medical expenses, medical care, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and court costs.

Weeks is represented by attorney C.A. Fleming III of Metairie.

The case has been assigned to Division B Judge Cornelius E. Regan.

Case no. 749-397.

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