Woman says doctor cut colon during procedure

WHEELING - A Wheeling woman says her doctor perforated her colon while performing a birth control operation on her fallopian tubes.

Jill Willey and husband Mike filed a lawsuit Dec. 14 in Ohio Circuit Court against Samuel Bracken, Jr. The alleged incident took place during her Dec. 15, 2004, laproscopic tubal ligation procedure at East Ohio Regional Hospital.

She says he perforated the sigmoid colon during the operation and failed to recognize it.

Willey says she "experienced severe abdominal pain" and was admitted to the hospital's emergency room four days later. There, she says, hospital staff thought she had a bowel obstitation but she returned the next day and was taken to surgery.

"Jill Willey underwent a colostomy and suffered severe peritonitis and septic shock, requiring admission to the Intensive Care Unit," the complaint says.

She was released nine days later. She seeks compensation for pain, scarring, mental and emotional anguish, embarrassment and the diminution of the ability to fully function, enjoy life and earn a living.

Mike Willey says he suffered severe mental and emotional anguish as well as loss of society, comfort and companionship.

David Jividen of Jividen Law Offices in Wheeling is representing the Willeys, who also seek compensation for medical bills and loss of wages.

Ohio Circuit Court case number 06-C-459