Canadian Hospital Faces Flesh Eating Infection Lawsuit

By Brittany Golledge

Published on August 18, 2005

After undergoing a cesarean section at Surrey Memorial Hospital, the plaintiff, Tara Roberts, began experiencing severe pain and developed a high fever. She was sent home by hospital staff only to return later when the pain intensified. Roberts was given antibiotics and again released by her doctors. When she returned complaining of the same symptoms she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating infection that required surgical intervention.

Roberts later developed Crohn's disease, a debilitating bowel disease, as well as a hernia in her abdomen near the location where surgeons had removed a portion of her flesh. She believes these conditions are directly related to the flesh-eating bacteria, and points out that Crohn's disease may be triggered by major infections.

The lawsuit alleges that hospital physicians were negligent in failing to diagnose the infection in a timely manner. Roberts also accuses the hospital of failing to adequately monitor its staff; she claims one of her physicians was not competent to perform her initial cesarean section.

Roberts is seeking damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity. The local health authority will not comment on the lawsuit before it reaches trial.

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