Spine Injury from Surgery Position, Woman Claims
4-24-2015 23:31:00


     PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) - Doctors mispositioned a woman’s legs during surgery, leaving her with a bulging disc and nerve damage, she claims in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

     Mary D. Clemans sued Kaiser Permanente, Stella Marie Dantas, M.D. and Carol Chiu, M.D. for medical negligence and vicarious liabilitly.
     In her lawsuit, Clemans says before her D & C and IUD insertion procedure, she asked to be positioned before she was sedated, in a “low lithotomy position,” because she had a history of back spasms.
     Instead, Dr. Dantas and Dr. Chiu put Clemans in the “dorsal high lithotomy position,” with her legs up in stirrups, and sedated her first, she claims.
     “Ms. Clemans was not positioned while awake and not positioned in a low risk position as requested. She was given anesthesia before positioning. Ms. Clemans awoke from surgery in intense pain and could not feel her right leg,” the complaint states.
     “Plaintiff continued to experience numbness and a cold sensation in her right leg. She had pain in her lower back and inner-right calf where her leg had been placed in the stirrup during the surgery. She was prescribed Oxycodone for the pain,” it states.
     About six weeks after the procedure, Clemans was diagnosed with a bulging disc, according to the complaint.
     “Ms. Clemans continues to suffer physically and mentally because of defendants’ negligence. The effects of being improperly positioned during the surgery cause her ongoing and excruciating pain. The injuries affect her ability to walk and participate in activities she once enjoyed. Her emotional and psychological wellbeing have suffered,” he complaint states.
     Mary Clemans seeks $30,000 in economic damages and $300,000 in economic damages. She is represented by Sandy N. Webb or Portland.
14CV19569