Gall bladder surgery sparks $1.4m lawsuit

A grandmother from D'Aguilar, northwest of Caboolture, is suing the State Government for $1.4 million over a disastrous turn of events that began with routine keyhole surgery to remove her gall bladder.

Raywin Heaslip, 51, claims she can no longer work or even play with her grandchildren following the alleged botched surgery at Caboolture Hospital, which left her with a bowel hernia the size of a dinner plate.

Documents filed in the Supreme Court allege Caboolture Hospital surgeons accidentally cut several holes in Ms Heaslip's small bowel on March 30, 2007.

One of the holes was repaired the next day but another three were not picked up until a third operation on April 4, her claim states.

Transferred to Redcliffe Hospital's intensive care ward on April 7, Mrs Heaslip soon developed further complications.

The wound was finally closed by skin graft four months later at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.

Mrs Heaslip suffers from recurrent bowel infections, and bouncing any of her nine grandchildren on her knee is now out of the question.

The documents show the former disability carer has been warned not to lift heavy items and she claims she can't even wear a seat belt.

Mrs Heaslip said a number of specialists had since told her surgery to reverse her disfigurement would leave her with less than a 50 per cent chance of survival. She said mediation for compensation from the Government was unsuccessful and she was suing for ongoing medical expenses and the couple's diminished earning power.

(Published by The Courier Mail - March 22, 2011)