Jury gives Katie Lafferty defense verdict in case alleging negligent laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Plaintiff underwent laparoscopic removal of her gallbladder for cholelithiasis and gallstones. After the procedure, she was diagnosed with a perforation injury to her small bowel. Plaintiff contended that the surgeon was negligent in causing the perforation and compounded his malpractice by failing to diagnose the perforation postoperatively. Plaintiff developed sepsis and required multiple subsequent operations, which she claimed gave her permanent pain syndrome in her upper abdomen. After a jury trial, a defense verdict was rendered in the doctor’s favor.