Location: CA
On April 22, 2025, I had laparoscopic surgery to remove a large ovarian cyst. I signed a consent form that included the possibility of ovary removal, but the doctor said it was unlikely and that it wouldn’t really affect anything. I asked questions and trusted that if something major happened, I’d be told.
After the surgery, no one mentioned anything beyond the cyst being removed. My discharge paperwork only said “cyst removal” no mention of the ovary or anything else. I assumed everything had gone as expected.
Then at my follow-up on May 14, the doctor casually told me they had also removed my entire ovary, along with a benign tumor and an endometrial cyst. I was completely blindsided. I didn’t even know how to react in the moment. I left in shock and later broke down trying to process what had been done to my body without anyone telling me.
I’m in my early 30s, and while I still have my other ovary, it’s the fact that I had no idea something so serious had been done that really messed with me.
I’ve requested my records. The operative report confirms the ovary was removed, but the discharge summary and post-op instructions make no mention of it. There was also no verbal disclosure until that follow-up appointment weeks later.
I’ve kept texts and messages from that day showing my shock and the reactions of family/friends, all basically saying, “Wait…they didn’t tell you?!”
Do I have any grounds for a case here based on the lack of post-op communication and the emotional impact it’s had? I’m not trying to sue for millions, but I don’t think this was okay. Any advice is appreciated.
Comments
No, it was a written possibility (which you signed off for) and discharge paper work doesnt include the transcripts from the surgery and it usually falls on the follow up where the Dr goes over everything with you.
So you were told when the dr did your follow up which is normal.
You do not have a case. You can submit a complaint but that’s about it.
This is not malpractice, no.
This is poor communication between the healthcare team and patient. You could file a complaint at the hospital or surgical group if you wanted.
Interestingly, I had the opposite happen. I went in for an ovarian cyst removal and was told about the possibility of removing the ovary. When I woke up, I asked the nurse if they’d removed the ovary, and she told me they had. In fact, they had never removed the ovary, but I spent a lot of time being deeply upset that they had before I found that out at my post-op follow up.
I did complain to the patient advocate and requested they implement a rule that nurses must check with a doctor before telling patients an organ was removed, but ultimately no one really cared about such a miscommunication. Unfortunately, I think you’re in the same boat. The best you can do is report it to the hospital and hope they’ll handle it better in the future.