A woman has filed a lawsuit against multiple healthcare providers and doctors, alleging severe medical negligence that resulted in significant injuries. Heather Bowers lodged the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on an unspecified date, targeting Penn Highlands Healthcare and several associated entities and physicians.
According to the complaint, Heather Bowers sought medical treatment from Penn Highlands Healthcare for heavy bleeding and possible endometriosis. Dr. Walter Cox recommended a laparoscopic vaginal hysterectomy, which was performed on August 10, 2022. Despite being aware of Bowers' prior medical history, including a left salpingo-oophorectomy and uterine ablation, Dr. Cox proceeded with the surgery. During the procedure, dense adhesions were observed throughout her pelvis, involving critical structures like the colon.
Following her discharge on the same day as her surgery, Bowers experienced severe complications. On August 14, 2022, she was unable to urinate and was subsequently admitted to Monongahela Valley Hospital's emergency department with a low-grade fever. A CT scan revealed a fluid collection in her pelvis indicative of an infection. Despite these alarming signs, appropriate diagnostic procedures were delayed.
The situation worsened when Bowers fell off a table during a procedure to insert a percutaneous central catheter for intravenous therapy on August 15. Over the next few days, additional scans revealed increasing fluid collections in her pelvic region and retroperitoneum. On August 19, Drs. Cox and Andrew Spergel performed another diagnostic laparoscopy but failed to address all underlying issues effectively.
By August 25, Bowers' condition had deteriorated significantly; she underwent an open laparotomy where surgeons discovered feculent material indicating severe infection and performed multiple procedures including an appendectomy and ileostomy creation. She remained critically ill with sepsis until her discharge on September 15 but required long-term care thereafter.
Bowers alleges that the defendants failed to follow acceptable standards of practice by not obtaining proper training for laparoscopy techniques given her medical history and physical condition. Specific accusations include performing unnecessary surgeries that increased injury risks, failing to detect and repair intraoperative injuries promptly, using improper equipment during procedures, delaying necessary diagnostics and treatments post-surgery leading to further complications like sepsis.
As a result of these alleged failures, Bowers claims she suffered permanent injuries such as decreased kidney function, bowel dysfunction requiring an ileostomy for months, bladder dysfunction resulting in incontinence among others along with significant pain and suffering impacting her quality of life.
Heather Bowers is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from each defendant named in the suit including Penn Highlands Healthcare d/b/a Penn Highlands Gynecology; Walter Cox MD; Monongahela Valley Hospital Inc d/b/a Penn Highlands Mon Valley Hospital; Allegheny Clinic d/b/a Jefferson Women’s Health; Andrew Spergel MD.
Representing Heather Bowers are attorneys John A Caputo (#16370) and Elizabeth L Jenkins (#85694) from John A Caputo & Associates based in Pittsburgh PA while case details are yet to be assigned specific judges or case ID numbers officially within court records.