Jury Awards $17 Million for Bladder Mistakenly Removed During Surgery

A Kennebec County jury awarded $17 million in damages on July 23, 2026, to Emily Mitchell, whose bladder was mistakenly removed during a procedure intended to remove a benign ovarian cyst. The verdict came after a two-week medical malpractice trial against Inland Hospital and Northern Light Health.

The incident occurred during a laparoscopic procedure on March 1, 2023. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that what began as a routine gynecological surgery resulted in a significant surgical error. Mitchell's condition worsened post-operation, leading to her transfer to Eastern Maine Medical Center for emergency surgery, where surgeons discovered her bladder had been removed. Pathology confirmed the excised tissue was full-thickness bladder wall, with insufficient remaining tissue for repair.

For over eight months, Mitchell required bilateral nephrostomy tubes to drain urine from her kidneys, experiencing recurrent infections and ongoing complications. She eventually underwent complex reconstructive surgery in Massachusetts, where a portion of her small intestine was used to create a neobladder.

Mitchell continues to suffer permanent effects, requiring daily self-catheterization and ongoing specialist care. The jury found Northern Light Inland Hospital and Northern Light Health liable, awarding damages for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and permanent impairment. The law firm Berman & Simmons represented Mitchell, noting the verdict as the largest medical malpractice award in Kennebec County history.