HOUSTON — A patient is suing Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital and others alleging a surgical sponge was left inside her which caused the worsening of her Crohn's disease and other serious health issues.
Lori Harrison filed a complaint July 23 in Harris County District Court against Memorial Hermann Health System doing business as Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, Lucrecia T. Sta Ana, M.D., Southwest Surgical Associates LLP, American Surgical Assistants Inc., doing business as American Surgical Professionals and Amy K. Burton alleging vicarious liability and negligence.
According to her complaint, Harrison suffers from Crohn's disease and underwent an "unwarranted operation" at Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital on Oct. 23, 2019. She claims that a surgical sponge was left inside her which caused inflammation, infection, abscesses, dead intestine and fistulas.
Harrison further claims that as a result of the defendant's negligence, she has required additional surgeries as well as removal of her small intestine and that the fistulas caused her "intestinal contents" to drain outside her abdominal wall.
She alleges she is still requiring hospitalizations due to further complications and that her Crohn's flare could have been treated with medication instead of a dangerous surgery.
Harrison also alleges that the defendants failed to promptly recognize the surgical sponge on a CT despite a radiologist's noting the sponge or to have proper surgical procedures or protocols for sponge counts particularly "personnel shift proper sponge counts."
Harrison seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. She is represented by Stephen Barnes of Barnes & Associates in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-44650