Doctor Loses Appeal In Malpractice Case

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A doctor has lost his appeal in a medical malpractice suit.

The Court of Appeal, in a two-to-one decision, upheld a ruling that Dr. Raleigh Butler was negligent when he removed a patient’s right ovary when he was supposed to remove her left one.

The patient was referred to Dr. Butler after she complained of constant pain on the left side of her body.

Dr Butler was supposed to remove her left ovary during an operation on Mach 24, 2010. Following the surgery, the woman continued to have severe pain.

When she told Dr. Butler that it felt that her left ovary was still there, he dismissed her concerns and prescribed more painkillers.

However, a scan later showed that her left ovary was intact, but the right one which she claimed was healthy was gone.

Dr. Butler denied any negligence. According to him, during the procedure, the patient’s right ovary looked suspicious, so he decided to remove it and send it off for analysis.