A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit alleging severe medical malpractice following a botched hysterectomy that left her with lifelong complications. Chi Dao filed the complaint in Harris County District Court on May 6, 2024, against Dr. Bao-Quoc La, Memorial Hermann Medical Group, and Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City LLC.
The lawsuit details a harrowing series of events beginning on August 8, 2022, when Chi Dao underwent a complete hysterectomy performed by Dr. Bao-Quoc La at Memorial Hermann facilities in Houston, Texas. According to the complaint, the surgery resulted in a bowel perforation injury that went undetected until Dao returned to the emergency room on August 21, 2023. The oversight led to a cascade of medical crises including three additional surgeries, loss of part of her large intestine, and the necessity of wearing a colostomy bag.
"Plaintiff is left with permanent damage to her digestive system and a lifetime of pain," reads the complaint. The document further alleges that Dr. La's failure to recognize and repair the bowel perforation during the initial surgery constitutes negligence and falls below the standard of care expected from medical professionals.
The plaintiff accuses Memorial Hermann Medical Group and Memorial Hermann Surgery Center Memorial City LLC of vicarious liability for their employees' actions during her treatment. The suit claims these entities failed to ensure proper post-operative care and assessment which could have mitigated or prevented Dao's extensive injuries.
Dao seeks damages exceeding $100,000 but not more than $2 million for past and future pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical impairment. Additionally, she requests exemplary damages to punish what she describes as grossly negligent behavior by all defendants involved.
Representing Chi Dao are attorneys David K. Mestemaker, Norman Straub, and Jonathan B. Zumwalt from Mestemaker Straub & Zumwalt law firm. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-49619 in Harris County District Court under Judge Marilyn Burgess.