Miami, FL – A routine surgery turned into a nightmare for Maria Rodriguez and her family, leaving her permanently disabled and fighting for her life. Rodriguez underwent a procedure to remove her fallopian tubes at Jackson Memorial Hospital in November 2022, with the intention of preventing future pregnancies. However, the surgery took a disastrous turn due to defective equipment, leaving Rodriguez hospitalized for months and facing lifelong consequences.
According to Rodriguez, she was assured that the outpatient procedure would take only 30 minutes and come with minimal risks. Instead, she faced a ten-hour ordeal as a result of two broken trocars – pen-shaped instruments used in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery – during the surgery. Fragments of the broken trocars were lost inside her body, requiring multiple surgeries to locate and remove them.
The lawsuit filed by Rodriguez’s attorney, Andrew Yaffa, alleges that doctors used X-ray, ultrasound, and CT scans to find the plastic pieces but failed to locate them. As a result, Rodriguez developed a severe infection that endangered her life. She underwent several surgeries to address the infection and other complications, including a stroke. Tragically, Rodriguez also had to undergo the amputation of several fingers on her dominant hand, permanently impairing her ability to perform everyday tasks.
Rodriguez and her husband, Rolando Oliva, believe that the entire ordeal could have been prevented. Yaffa claims that the trocar’s manufacturer, Applied Medical Resources Corporation, knew about the potential for breakage since numerous reports to the FDA have been filed since 2015. These reports detailed instances where the device cracked, bent, or broke during procedures.
Applied Medical expressed sympathy for Rodriguez’s situation and stated their commitment to investigating the matter. Jackson Health System, on the other hand, declined to comment on the pending litigation. Rodriguez and Oliva, however, express their frustration and disbelief that such a tragedy could happen in their country.
Rodriguez hopes that her story serves as a warning to others and emphasizes the importance of transparency and honesty in healthcare. As of now, the plastic pieces from the broken trocars remain in her body, yet to be found or removed.
This horrifying incident not only highlights the tragic consequences of medical equipment malfunctions but also raises questions about the need for stronger regulations and awareness about potential risks associated with certain procedures. It serves as a reminder that patients should be fully informed about the risks involved before undergoing any surgery, and manufacturers should prioritize the safety and reliability of their products to prevent such catastrophic incidents from occurring again.