The Ontario Superior Court of Justice found a gynecologist surgeon negligent for failing to detect and repair a bowel perforation during a 2015 laparoscopic surgery, resulting in life-threatening complications and permanent injuries to the patient.
The plaintiff underwent surgery to address a uterine condition at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. During the operation, a bowel injury occurred, leading to life-threatening complications that required emergency surgery 36 hours later. The patient endured weeks in intensive care, multiple surgeries, and permanent after-effects, including a colostomy.
The court acknowledged that bowel injury is a known risk of such surgery but held that the surgeon failed to meet the standard of care required to identify and address the injury during the procedure. The court determined that the surgeon was unable to thoroughly inspect the surgical site, particularly in the area where they had removed significant adhesions between the bowel and fallopian tube.