Abby Lee Miller has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital in Los Angeles and two doctors over shocking allegations related to her 2020 spinal surgery.
According to TMZ, the “Dance Moms” star, 59, claimed that doctors left a catheter component in her abdomen during the procedure over four years ago.
Miller alleged that after the seemingly successful surgery, she “began suffering from abdominal pain and discomfort.” She said she shared her distress with multiple medical professionals, including the two doctors who performed her surgery, but they “largely ignored” her complaints.
Her attorney, Nadine Lewis, told Page Six that doctors “systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years.”
After a doctor performed a CT scan on Miller, it was allegedly discovered that a “retained catheter” was inside her body from the surgery, her lawsuit claimed.
To prove her allegations, Miller in her lawsuit included a photo of the catheter after it was removed. She also shared a photo of what she claimed is “the outline of a foreign blue object embedded beneath her skin, surrounded by scar tissue.”
Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai, as well as Dr. Hooman Melamed and Dr. Paul Dwan, who performed her spinal surgery, for medical malpractice, professional negligence and medical battery, according to TMZ.
She is reportedly asking for at least $1.4 million in damages.
The Post has reached out to Miller and Cedars-Sinai for comment.
Cedars-Sinai told The Post in a statement, “Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters. Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patient’s medical treatment. However, the care and safety of our patients, staff and visitors are always Cedars-Sinai’s top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve.”
Miller’s attorney told Page Six, “In California, the law requires a patient to send a 90-Day Notice to healthcare providers prior to filing a lawsuit. The doctors and hospital had 90 days to settle this matter without it being made public. The doctors didn’t respond in any manner. The hospital only acknowledged receipt of the letter.”
Lewis added: “With 1 in 5,500 patients having foreign objects left in them during surgery annually, Abby intends to use her wide-reaching platform to bring attention to this matter.”
In 2018, Miller underwent emergency spinal surgery for an infection, which led to her being diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
After undergoing chemotherapy, she had a second surgery on her spine in November 2020.
Miller has been bound to a wheelchair since her cancer diagnosis.
