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Woman says Yellowknife surgeons left metal clip in her back for 8 years

An Edmonton woman is suing a team of doctors and Stanton Hospital, saying they left a surgical clip in her back during a 1993 surgery, which later caused her back pain.

Woman suing doctors, Stanton Hospital over 1993 gall bladder surgery

(Sara Minogue/CBC)

An Edmonton woman is suing three Yellowknife doctors after she says they left a piece of metal in her back for eight years.

Darlene Larabie underwent gall bladder surgery at Stanton Territorial Hospital in March 1993.

Eight years later, Larabie says a doctor in Edmonton requested she get an ultrasound after she complained of back pain. Court documents state that "the presence of a surgical clip in the upper right quadrant of her lumbar spine left from the cholecystectomy ...was confirmed."

None of Larabie's accusations have been proven in court.

In court documents, Larabie says that after the initial gall bladder surgery, she returned to the hospital several times complaining of lower back pain. She says she was told she had lower back strain, was given medication and told to increase her physical activity.

Metal clip caused 'pain, depression'

Larabie is asking for damages from the two doctors who performed the surgery and the anesthetist. 

Larabie is also asking for damages from Stanton Territorial Hospital and three nurses who have not been named.

She is asking for about $500,000 for injuries such as severe pain, depression and fatigue that she says were caused by the metal clip.

One of the surgeons says Larabie's pain was caused by existing medical conditions. (ChaNaWiT/Shutterstock)

In a statement of defence, one of the surgeons "denies that her respective treatment and medical services provided to [Larabie] fell below the standard of care required."

In the documents, the surgeon never explicitly denies that the metal clip was left in Larabie's back but she does say that she provided an acceptable standard of care.

Pain came from 'existing medical conditions'

The surgeon says Larabie was given different treatment options and that she was aware of the benefits and risks.

She says that if Larabie "did suffer injuries or losses, which is denied, such injuries or losses are excessive, exaggerated and too remote."

She also says any losses came from pre-existing medical conditions but didn't provide any details on those conditions.

The surgeon is also calling for the case to be dismissed because Larabie has failed to provide a legitimate address. Both parties must provide an address to receive court documents. On several occasions, Larabie has provided false addresses.

All parties will meet with a judge on Nov. 25 to go over the application to have the case dismissed.

The two other doctors have yet to submit their statements of defence.