I went for surgery to remove my appendix. The doctors took out the wrong organ trends now
A cancer patient is suing his hospital and surgeons after they allegedly removed the wrong organ during a botched appendix operation.
George Piano, 72, had been diagnosed with appendicitis and went for an operation to have his appendix taken out at the University of Washington Medical Center in December last year.
But when the pain persisted after the treatment, scans revealed doctors had removed part of his large intestine instead of his appendix.
The bowel was also now leaking its contents into the abdomen, causing an infection and making the pain 'much worse' than before he had the surgery.
George Piano, 72, pictured above with wife Betsy, from Washington state, said doctors removed part of his large colon when they were meant to remove his appendix
He has now had four surgeries because of the botched surgery, suffered an infection and had a wound the size of a pool ball in his abdomen that wouldn't heal for months
Mr Piano has filed the lawsuit claiming medical malpractice. He is pictured above in hospital during treatment
According to the lawsuit, the father-of-two has since had to go for four surgeries and was left needing to defecate into a bag.
He has also suffered with constant pain and a wound the size of a pool ball in his abdomen that did not heal for months.
The lawsuit also says the botched surgery forced him to delay treatment for cancer.
The former construction worker is seeking damages for medical malpractice from the hospital and his surgeons Nidhi Udyavar and Paul Herman.
He has not said how much he is seeking, but his lawyer Ed Moore said similar cases in the past have led to pay-outs from $500,000 to $3million.
His case was filed with King County Superior Court on December 6 and a trial date has been set for November next year.
Speaking about his injuries, Mr Piano — from Lake Forest Park — told KIRO 7 while fighting back tears:
