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Highlands Today

Woman Sues Doctor Over Appendix Operation

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: January 29, 2008

SEBRING — A Sebring resident has filed a lawsuit against a doctor who she said drugged her and performed an emergency appendectomy without her permission.

Mollie A. George and her husband, Lawrence, filed paperwork at the Highlands County Courthouse last Thursday, seeking damages exceeding $15,000, against Dr. Kevin Meyer.

The suit alleges that on or about Sept. 12, 2006, Mollie was experiencing abdominal pains and went to the emergency room at Highlands Regional Medical Center (HRMC), when Meyer allegedly advised her that she had appendicitis and required surgery.

The suit goes on to say that at the time, Mollie was competent enough to make a decision regarding her medical care and was legally within her rights to decline treatment.

Mollie allegedly "adamantly declined an appendectomy or any surgical procedure and withheld her consent."

The suit goes on to say that Meyer, or another person under his direction, allegedly intentionally sedated Mollie against her will, by placing drugs in her body. After the alleged drugging, Meyer allegedly woke Mollie from sleeping and obtained her written signature on a purported consent form.

The suit goes on to say that Mollie's appendix was removed, but upon a later laboratory examination it was determined to be healthy.

The suit says that Mollie suffered bodily injury, pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, expense of hospitalization, medical and nursing care treatment, loss of earnings, loss of ability to earn money, and aggravation of a previously existing condition.

The Georges are requesting a jury trial and compensation for damages. They have also reserved the right to seek punitive damages.

"I've personally never been involved in a suit like this," said Gary R. Gossett Jr., of Sebring, who is representing the Georges. "Some of the (details) involved are very surprising."

Gossett said that he has at least one sworn witness statement verifying Mollie's story and that he planned to perform more witness depositions in the future.

A phone call placed to Highlands Regional Medical Center was not returned Monday. A search of the HRMC Web site did not indicate whether Meyer is currently on staff.

A search of the Florida Department of Health's license verification database says that there is a Dr. Kevin Meyer currently practicing in Sebring, with an address of record as 2401 U.S. 27 S.

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