Ob-Gyn Patient Settles Chemical Burn Lawsuit for $600K

An Ohio woman who suffered chemical burns to her genitals during a lesion excision surgery has settled her medical malpractice lawsuit with the hospital where the error happened for $600,000.

The 42-year-old patient, who was not named in the settlement record, underwent the procedure to remove low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions from her vulva in January 2011. She was placed under general anesthesia.

While the surgeon, who was also not named, had intended to apply diluted acetic acid to the surgical site as a preparatory agent, the settlement report notes that he erroneously applied a concentrated form of acetic or trichloroacetic acid.

The resulting chemical burns, which took months to heal, caused permanent scarring and discomfort to the patient's vulva and perineum. The settlement report relays the patient's claim that these damages not only make sexual activity unpleasant, but also that the specialists she's consulted have advised further surgery to repair.

In December 2011, the risk management department of the unnamed hospital at which the procedure took place agreed in an Ohio county court to settle the case.

Attorneys for the patient did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Attorneys for the hospital could not be located.

David Bernard