Hernia Surgery Malpractice Lawsuit Results in $17.5M Settlement

An Illinois jury has awarded $17.5 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against a doctor and hospital for perforating a man’s bowel during hernia surgery. 

The complaint was filed by Terry Nichols against Dr. Rodney McCalla, Associated Surgical Group and Methodist Medical Center.

Nichols, 36, had to have a basketball-sized hernia removed, and Dr. McCalla was assigned to the surgery. However, Nichols alleged in the complaint that McCalla had never worked on any hernia of similar size and complexity.

Hernia Mesh Lawsuits

Did you or a loved one receive a hernia mesh?

Hernia mesh lawsuits are being filed against Bard, Atrium, Covidien and several other hernia mesh manufacturers over mesh failures resulting in injuries and additional surgery.

Learn More See If You Qualify For Compensation

The lawsuit claims McCalla punctured Nichols’ bowels during the laproscopic surgery. He had only finished his residency nine months earlier and allegedly did not have privileges to conduct interventional laparoscopic surgeries.

As a result of the surgical mistake, Nichols suffered an abdominal infection, staph infection, septic shock, cardiac arrest, blindness, and multi-organ failure as a result of surgical complications and needs the use of a colostomy bag. His hip bone was eventually removed and he lost the ability to walk for six years.

After the initial surgery, Nichols was hospitalized for five days, during which the lawsuit alleges that nurses called McCalla five times to express concern about his condition. However, according to the lawsuit, McCalla never came in to look at Nichols despite staff concerns. The nurses never contacted other physicians or hospital supervisors to express concerns regarding Nichols’ condition or McCalla’s unwillingness to come in to work to look at him.

Before the case could go to trial, the defendants reportedly agreed to a $17.5 million settlement in the hernia surgery malpractice lawsuit. It is believed to be the largest tort settlement in the history of Peoria County, Illinois, according to a press release issued by Nichols’ attorneys.

2 Comments

  • CharlesMarch 12, 2024 at 8:54 pm

    Looking for a battery that would take out case seriously in the aspect of keeping us informed, tell us for more information if needed. Keep us updated, tell us when we are able to collect on settlement. For my mother in laws information call Jamie Hopper at 309-645-8064.

  • MandyJuly 6, 2016 at 1:47 pm

    I've had 3 umbilical hernia surgery's 2 laperscopic and a major surgery and now I have no belly button

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Moving Forward Simultaneously in Federal MDL and Various State Courts
Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Moving Forward Simultaneously in Federal MDL and Various State Courts (Posted yesterday)

Lawyers will meet today with the federal judge presiding over all hair relaxer lawsuits, as women diagnosed with uterine, endometrial and ovarian cancer continue to file claims throughout the U.S. court system.