• A Minnesota woman, Wendy Rappaport, is suing for medical malpractice after her kidney was mistakenly removed.
• The surgery was intended for a spleen removal but led to significant health complications.
• Rappaport now suffers from Stage 5 kidney disease and requires ongoing dialysis treatment.
• The lawsuit seeks over $50,000 for damages related to the medical mistake.
• Allina Health System intends to contest the allegations, maintaining that the lawsuit misrepresents the situation.

Wendy Rappaport, a woman from Minnesota, has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against surgeon Devon Callahan and Allina Health System after undergoing a surgery in March 2022 where her left kidney was removed instead of her spleen. The lawsuit claims that during an open laparotomy, Callahan misidentified and removed Rappaport's healthy kidney. Post-operative imaging later confirmed that her spleen remained intact, indicating a significant surgical error, according to SCMP and CBS News.

The lawsuit, filed on May 16, 2022, outlines that Rappaport was admitted to Abbott Northwestern Hospital with concerns regarding a potential ruptured spleen. Initial tests, including a CAT scan, did not indicate any issues with her kidneys. The surgical error led to Rappaport facing severe health complications, including respiratory failure and Stage 5 kidney disease, which now requires her to undergo dialysis treatments regularly. Her attorney described the removal of the wrong organ as an egregious act stating, "This never should have happened," according to ABC News.

In response to the lawsuit, Allina Health System stated, "While we will not discuss details of a patient's care due to privacy laws, the court filings don't accurately reflect the full picture of the patient's condition or the life-saving medical care provided." The hospital has expressed its intent to "vigorously defend" the care that was provided, according to SCMP, CBS News, and ABC News.

Rappaport's lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $50,000, a figure cited for procedural requirements in Minnesota law, although her legal team has indicated the actual amount could be significantly higher due to the catastrophic impact this medical error has had on her health and well-being. "We are seeking fair compensation that exceeds $50,000," her attorney noted, stressing the profound impact of the surgeon's negligence on her life, according to SCMP, CBS News, and ABC News.