Maine Woman Wins $17 Million After Bladder Accidentally Removed in Surgery

Emily Mitchell, a 38‑year‑old from Skowhegan, never imagined that a routine operation to take out an ovarian cyst would end with her needing a brand‑new bladder. In the summer of 2023 she went to Northern Light Health Inland Hospital for what doctors called a “simple laparoscopic cystectomy.” The procedure, however, went horribly wrong.

Shortly after the surgery, Mitchell was in excruciating pain and could barely pee. The hospital sent her to Eastern Maine Medical Center for emergency evaluation. There, surgeons made a shocking discovery: most of her bladder had been removed along with the cyst. Pathology reports later confirmed that bladder tissue, not just ovarian tissue, had been cut out.

Mitchell never signed any consent form that covered bladder removal. Instead, she was left with bilateral nephrostomy tubes draining urine directly from her kidneys, a setup that caused constant infections, kidney stones and repeated hospital visits. For eight grueling months she lived with catheters, UTIs and the looming fear that her body might never work normally again.

Eventually, a specialist in Massachusetts performed a complex reconstructive operation, using a segment of Mitchell’s small intestine to fashion a neobladder. The surgery gave her a chance at a more ordinary life, but the physical toll and emotional trauma lingered.

Last Thursday, a Kennebec County jury held Northern Light Inland Hospital and its parent organization, Northern Light Health, liable for the malpractice. The verdict awarded Mitchell $17 million to cover past and future medical costs, pain and suffering, and permanent impairment. Attorneys say it’s the largest malpractice judgment ever handed down in the county.

“For Emily and her family, this is the closure they’ve needed for a long time,” said Susan Faunce of Berman & Simmons. “They can finally begin to move forward, knowing that what happened to them was seen, heard, and acknowledged.”

Ovarian cysts are common and usually harmless, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Surgery is only recommended when a cyst grows or causes symptoms, and even then, careful imaging and precise technique are essential to avoid tragedies like Mitchell’s.