A Milwaukee woman who was placed on life support for two months says a feeding tube was left inside her body for three decades, causing her continuous pain and health complications.
Deborah Lowe filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing the Mount Sinai Medical Center, which has since been renamed to Aurora Sinai Medical Center, in Milwaukee of ‘medical negligence.’
‘How could they do this, who could make this mistake?’ she told CBS58 through tears. ‘This is too much, I shouldn’t have to go through this.’
In 1989, Lowe was admitted into the Mount Sinai Medical Center to deliver her twins through a C-section.
The procedure didn’t go as planned, causing her to need an ’emergency total hysterectomy,’ after which she was placed on life support for two months.
‘I had tubes everywhere,’ she said. ‘Feeding tubes, everything on me.’
The mother-of-two said a feeding tube was inserted during this time, but it was never removed and alleges the tube has caused her pain for the 35 years since.
‘Since 1989, I couldn’t do things. I had migraines, shortness of breath, and my stomach constantly swelled,’ she told Fox6. ‘I was 25 years old. That’s my whole life.’
Deborah Lowe (pictured) filed a scathing lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing the Mount Sinai Medical Center, which has since been renamed to Aurora Sinai Medical Center, in Milwaukee of ‘medical negligence’
The mother-of-two said a feeding tube was inserted while she was on life support, but it was never removed. Pictured: Deborah Lowe in the hospital after the error by Mount Sinai
The Milwaukee-native made several hospital visits in the years since her total hysterectomy.
In 2010, she went to a hospital complaining of abdominal pain and was evaluated. She also underwent colonoscopies in 2013 and 2023, but there was never an answer to her pain, according to the lawsuit.
Then, in April 2024, Lowe underwent a colon procedure when doctor at Froedtert Hospital, also in Milwaukee, discovered the tube from her 1989 procedure, court documents said.
‘[Lowe’s] suffering was entirely preventable,’ her attorney B’Ivory LaMarr said in a statement.
‘This case is a glaring example of systemic failure within our healthcare system. No patient should endure decades of pain because of a preventable mistake hidden in plain sight.’
Now, the appalled woman is suing for medical negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and emotional distress.
‘They took my whole life,’ she said. ‘I was only 25 years old, and I couldn’t have no more kids, now I’m still going through things. I can’t do things I used to do.’
The searing 20-page lawsuit lists Mount Sinai Medical Center, John Does 1-3 and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund.
‘I would want no one to go through this,’ she said. ‘It’s terrible when you don’t know what’s going on inside of you. You just try to live day by day.’
In April 2024, Lowe (pictured) underwent a colon procedure when doctor at Froedtert Hospital, also in Milwaukee, discovered the tube from her 1989 procedure, court documents said
‘This case is a glaring example of systemic failure within our healthcare system. No patient should endure decades of pain because of a preventable mistake hidden in plain sight,’ Lowe’s attorney B’Ivory LaMarr (right) said
The searing 20-page lawsuit lists Mount Sinai Medical Center, John Does 1-3 and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund
Lowe’s attorney said the case is ‘more than just a personal tragedy’ and hopes the suit will provide change to protect future patients from similar incidents.
‘We believe this is the most egregious example of medical negligence in the state,’ LaMarr said, adding that Lowe’s case is ‘the most outrageous alleged negligence’ he, personally, has ever seen.
LaMarr wants his distressed client to be ‘rightfully compensated’ and for the medical staff involved to be held accountable, demanding a trial by jury.
Aurora Health Care has since claimed it has ‘not been legally notified’ of the lawsuit.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the healthcare company said: ‘We have not been legally notified of this lawsuit and cannot comment further.’
