A Maine mother has been awarded $15.75 million after a surgeon mistakenly removed her bladder instead of an ovarian cyst. Emily Mitchell, 43, of Skowhegan, received the compensation in Kennebec County Superior Court on Thursday, more than three years after the procedure performed by Dr. Danielle Gagnon.
The botched surgery led to a series of subsequent procedures, including one where surgeons reconstructed a bladder using tissue from Mitchell's intestine. She continues to require ongoing medical treatment for recurring urinary tract infections.
A nine-person jury unanimously determined that Northern Light Inland Hospital's negligence caused the life-altering injuries. Mitchell's husband, Joshua Mitchell, was awarded an additional $1.25 million in damages for losses stemming from the consequences of the operation.
"For Emily and her family, this is the closure they’ve needed for a long time," Mitchell's attorney, Susan Faunce, stated. "They can finally begin to move forward, knowing that what happened to them was seen, heard and acknowledged."
A spokesperson for Northern Light stated, "We respect the jury's verdict and extend our sympathy to Ms. Mitchell and her family. Every patient who comes to our organization deserves safe, compassionate and high-quality care. When outcomes fall short of those expectations, we take them very seriously."
The combined $17 million award is the largest medical malpractice verdict in Kennebec County history. This verdict marks the fourth instance this year where a jury has found Northern Light Inland Hospital negligent in patient care.
Mitchell, who was 40 at the time, underwent laparoscopic surgery on March 1, 2023, to remove a cyst from her left ovary. Court documents indicate that Dr. Gagnon instead removed Mitchell's bladder. She filed a lawsuit in July 2025 against Inland Hospital and Northern Light Health, alleging Gagnon failed to adhere to safety protocols during the procedure.
The lawsuit accused the hospital of removing Mitchell's bladder without her consent during what was intended to be a routine surgery. It stated that a reasonable person would not have consented to the surgery if they had known there was a substantial risk of bladder removal.
Mitchell's husband claimed he lost the care, comfort, and companionship of his wife as a result of the incident. The lawsuit detailed that shortly after the surgery, Mitchell returned to the hospital experiencing severe pain, discomfort, bloating, and difficulty urinating.
She was transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center two days post-operation as her condition worsened. There, doctors discovered that Mitchell's bladder wall was missing, as reported in the lawsuit. Two other surgeons confirmed that there was insufficient viable bladder tissue remaining for reconstruction. The lawsuit stated that Gagnon had removed nearly all of Emily’s healthy bladder, with a pathology report confirming the removed tissue contained bladder wall fragments and no ovarian tissue.
Mitchell experienced a cascade of complications in the subsequent months, including kidney infections, urinary tract infections, and medication issues. In October 2023, she underwent another significant surgery in Boston to create a new bladder using intestinal tissue. According to the lawsuit, this procedure was more complex and lasted three hours longer than anticipated due to further damage discovered.
The trial began on July 13, with the jury reaching its unanimous verdict in Mitchell's favor on Thursday. The award includes compensation for her injuries, pain, suffering, and ongoing medical expenses. Dr. Gagnon is no longer employed by Northern Light Health. The hospital where the surgery occurred closed last year.