GRETNA – A local hospital and doctor are being sued by a patient who claims she suffered severe complications during a surgery.
Sonal Shah, and husband Satish, filed suit against Ochsner Health Systems Inc., Ochsner Clinic Foundation and Lisa Bazzett-Matabele M.D. in the 24th Judicial District Court on July 7.
Shah alleges that on June 19, 2012 she was admitted to a Ochsner Clinic Foundation hospital under the care of Bazzett-Matabele for a hysterectomy. The plaintiff contends she had not been told about the details of the surgery and did not know she had been scheduled for robotic surgery until she was given a consent form to sign. Shah asserts that during the surgery Bazzett-Matabele cut one of her ureters resulting in urine leaking inside her body.
The plaintiff claims it was not until 13 days after the surgery that she realized there was a problem and came back to the hospital at which time the defect was diagnosed. Due to the incident Shah alleges she was unable to perform her work as a CPA while awaiting a ureter reimplantation that was not completed until Sept. 11, 2012 and it was not until November 2012 that she was fully released from care.
The plaintiff contends she has suffered continuing problems due to the complications during surgery.
The defendant is accused of medical malpractice.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, scraping, disfigurement and loss of enjoyment of life.
Shah is represented by Harry T. Widmann of Metairie-based Harry T. Widmann & Associates.
The case has been assigned to Division P Judge Lee V. Faulkner Jr.
Case no. 751-363.