Kamloops woman alleges routine surgery at RIH left her deformed, with arterial bleeding

Photo: Castanet Staff

A Kamloops woman is suing Interior Health and a local doctor, alleging part of her vagina was removed without her consent during a botched 2019 operation left her with arterial bleeding and required emergency surgery to fix.

Castanet Kamloops is not naming the woman due to the sensitive nature of her claim. According to a notice of claim filed last week in B.C. Supreme Court, the woman underwent what she believed to be a labia reduction surgery in 2019 and was left with life-altering injuries.

The document alleges the surgery was carried out on Nov. 7, 2019.

According to the claim, the surgery left the woman with “multiple arterial hemorrhages.” An on-call surgeon performed emergency surgery to stop the bleeding about an hour after the initial operation, the document alleges.

The woman also accuses the doctor of going beyond the scope of what she consented to. According to the claim, she agreed to have part of her labia removed; a post-surgery report allegedly indicates her entire labia and part of her vagina was removed.

“As a result of the procedures, the plaintiff developed significant scar tissue in and around the remaining areas of her vulva and vagina that have resulted in deformity,” the document alleges.

“The plaintiff’s marriage and quality of life has suffered as a result of the procedures, as well as her self-esteem and sense of femininity.”

The notice of claim names Interior Health and Dr. Mark James Benjamin Treissman as defendants. Each party will have three weeks to respond once they’ve been served.

None of the allegations in the notice of claim have been proven in court.