Local woman files lawsuit after doctor finds feeding tube inside her 35 years later
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A shocking discovery for a woman as she says a surgical feeding tube was left inside her body for 35 years, causing her continuous pain and health complications.
Deborah Lowe filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Mount Sinai Medical Center, now Aurora Sinai Medical Center, in Milwaukee.
"How could they do this," said Lowe. "Who could make this mistake? This is too much, I shouldn’t have to go through this."
In 1989, Lowe was admitted at Mount Sinai Medical Center to deliver her twins through a C-section, which she suffered severe complications from. She says this led her to have an emergency total hysterectomy and be placed on life support for two months.
"I had tubes everywhere," said Lowe. "Feeding tubes, everything on me."
Lowe says her life was never the same. She experienced persistent stomach pain for more than three decades, seeing multiple doctors and having several procedures.
"It was just difficult for me to do things," said Lowe. "I want to go shopping, walk around in a mall, I couldn’t do that. My stomach was constantly swelling."
Still looking for answers, last April she says her doctor found the problem -- a feeding tube, from her procedure in 1989, still inside of her.
"The feeding tube was left inside for 35 years," said Lowe. "I was 25 years old; that’s my whole life."
Lowe says she suffered for years and now she's demanding justice.
"They took my whole life," said Lowe. "I was only 25 years old, and I couldn’t have no more kids, now I'm still going through things. I can't do things I used to do."
Her attorney, B'Ivory LaMarr, filed a 20-page lawsuit accusing the hospital of medical malpractice and gross negligence.
"This is probably the most outrageous alleged negligence that I think I've ever seen before," said LaMarr.
LaMarr wants Lowe compensated and for the medical staff involved to be held accountable, demanding a trial by jury.
We reached out to the hospital, and Aurora Health Care said, "We have not been legally notified of this lawsuit and cannot comment further.”