Maine woman awarded $17M after bladder removed during ovarian cyst surgery

Key Points:

• Emily Mitchell, a Maine woman, was awarded $17 million by a Kennebec County jury after a surgical error led to the removal of her bladder during a procedure intended to treat a benign ovarian cyst.
• The surgery, performed on March 1, 2023, resulted in irreversible damage, requiring Mitchell to undergo emergency surgery and live with ongoing health complications, including reliance on nephrostomy tubes and later reconstructive surgery to create a neobladder.
• Northern Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Health were found liable for the medical malpractice, with the award covering past and future medical expenses, suffering, emotional distress, and permanent impairment.
• The verdict is the largest medical malpractice award in Kennebec County and provides Mitchell with a sense of closure after nearly three years of ongoing medical challenges and treatments.
• Northern Light Inland Hospital, where the surgery took place, closed in May 2025 due to financial pressures and labor market challenges after serving the community for over 80 years.