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MAN ‘ALMOST DIED’ AFTER SURGEONS REMOVED WRONG ORGAN: LAWSUIT | TACOMA NEWS
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Friday, November 17, 2023

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WASHINGTON STATE


MAN ‘ALMOST DIED’ AFTER SURGEONS REMOVED WRONG ORGAN INSTEAD OF APPENDIX,
LAWSUIT SAYS

By Julia Marnin

November 07, 2023 1:53 PM
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   ORDER REPRINT →


A man is suing Washington surgeons, accusing them of removing a different organ
during his appendix surgery. Complaint


A Washington man who had surgery for an urgent appendix removal learned his
surgeons removed a different organ instead — leading to four more surgeries and
chronic pain that has lasted for nearly a year, according to a newly filed
lawsuit.

After George Piano arrived with extreme stomach pain at the University of
Washington Medical Center’s emergency room in Seattle on Dec. 6, 2022, he was
diagnosed with appendicitis and underwent what was supposed to be an
appendectomy operation, a complaint filed Nov. 2 says.

However, according to the complaint, surgeons didn’t take out Piano’s appendix
and actually removed a piece of his bowel — specifically “diverticulitis on
(his) lower colon” that day.



Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula, “small pockets that can develop” on the
inside of the colon, become inflamed, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Piano’s stomach pain worsened after the procedure and two days later, the
medical center told him his appendix was still inside his body, the complaint
says.

His surgeons are accused of being unable to find the organ on Dec. 6, according
to a news release issued Nov. 3 by Piano’s attorney Edward H. Moore.

On Dec. 8, Piano had a second surgery to remove his appendix, the complaint
says.



According to the lawsuit, Piano’s surgeon then told him he needed an additional
procedure to repair a new issue — a “leaky colon” — as a result of the first
surgery.

“I was suffering from a leaking colon that created sepsis and infection,” Piano
told KIRO 7 News in an interview. “And I almost died from it.”

Piano has been left with “numerous medical problems” he never had before Dec. 6
and needed an ileostomy bag installed — “where (his) intestine protruded from
the abdomen so that all waste would be expelled into the bag,” according to the
complaint. The ileostomy bag procedure lasted 45 minutes, the complaint says.



Now, Piano and his wife, Elizabeth Piano, both of Lake Forest Park, are suing
the University of Washington and Piano’s two UW surgeons, Nidhi Udyavar and Paul
Herman, Moore announced in the release. The defendants are accused of
negligence, the complaint shows.

UW Medicine media relations director Susan Gregg told McClatchy News in a
statement on Nov. 7 that “we are unable to comment on the specifics of the
case.”

“UW Medicine strives to provide the best possible care to all of our patients;
their safety and well-being is deeply important to us,” Gregg added.


THE SURGERY’S EFFECT ON THE COUPLE’S LIVES

According to the lawsuit, Piano has had four total surgeries following the Dec.
6 surgery.



It’s also caused him to delay seeking cancer treatment, endure “extreme
continued pain,” need weekly physical therapy visits and nurse visits to change
his ileostomy bag at his home, the complaint says.

The Piano’s marital life has also become strained as a result of the surgical
error on Dec. 6, according to the complaint.

Elizabeth Piano has delayed and rescheduled her own medical appointments to care
for her husband, including tending to his wounds and repeatedly emptying his
ileostomy bag and more, the complaint says.



“To watch someone you love, your family member go through that kind of trauma.
It’s horrifying, it is,” Elizabeth Piano, who also goes by Betsy, told KIRO 7
News.

The Pianos have also missed family gatherings and scheduled trips, including
their planned trip to Texas for Elizabeth Piano’s mother’s 101st birthday
celebration, due to the surgical mistake, according to the complaint.

“Neither George or Betsy expected to spend upwards of a year dealing with open
wounds, horrific pain, multiple hospitalizations, constant medical care and
extended infirmity,” the news release said. “George will live with the wounds,
related scars and sequelae of this surgical misadventure for the rest of his
life.”



The lawsuit seeks to have a judgment issued against the defendants and hopes to
recover relief “as the court deems appropriate,” the complaint says.

Lake Forest Park is about 15 miles northeast of Seattle.

READ NEXT

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FLORIDA DOCTOR ACCEPTED $160K IN BRIBES TO PRESCRIBE UNNECESSARY FENTANYL, FEDS
SAY

October 30, 2023 12:55 PM

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DOCTOR USED HIS SPERM TO SECRETLY INSEMINATE WOMAN 34 YEARS AGO, WASHINGTON
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October 27, 2023 2:09 PM

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MOM OF 3 DIED IN EMERGENCY ROOM LOBBY AFTER WAITING HOURS TO SEE DOCTOR, LAWSUIT
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October 16, 2023 12:38 PM

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NATIONAL


PATIENTS ENDURE ‘EXCRUCIATING’ SURGERIES AFTER NURSE SWAPS MEDS WITH SALINE,
SUIT SAYS

October 11, 2023 2:43 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




JULIA MARNIN

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Julia Marnin is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the southeast
and northeast while based in New York. She’s an alumna of The College of New
Jersey and joined McClatchy in 2021. Previously, she’s written for Newsweek,
Modern Luxury, Gannett and more.



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