HL: Medical negligence case goes to jury in Lexington against gynecologist on claim of unnecessary removal of ovaries

From the Herald Leader is a story on medical negligence case with Plaintiff Lawyer Sheila Heistand and Insurance Lawyer Don Brown trying the case against Dr. Michael Guiler, who had previously been in the national spotlight because of other lawsuits filed in 2003 alleging he had branded “UK” — for University of Kentucky, his alma mater — on uteri before he removed them.

Updated: Jury finds Lexington gynecologist not guilty
By Anna Tong
A Lexington gynecologist was found not guilty of unnecessarily removing an Owingsville woman's ovaries Tuesday night.

Click on heading for the entire story by Anna Tong:.

Lexington gynecologist's case goes to the jury
By Anna Tong
atong@herald-leader.com
A medical malpractice case in which an Owingsville woman accused a Lexington gynecologist of unnecessary castration — removing her healthy ovaries — without warning her of the surgery's consequences went to the jury Tuesday.

The defense argued that the doctor used sound medical judgment.

“He's done the worst thing a physician can do — he violated her trust,” said Lexington attorney Sheila Hiestand.

The plaintiff, 38 year-old Connie Grimes, wept quietly after closing arguments, leaning on her husband.

Grimes is one of six women who filed a lawsuit against Dr. Michael Guiler in 2003, saying he performed medically unnecessary oophorectomies. The cases are being tried separately.

Removing a woman's ovaries results in early menopause and leaves patients at risk for breast cancer, embolisms and dementia because they can no longer produce their own estrogen.

Guiler has previously been in the national spotlight because of other lawsuits filed in 2003 alleging he had branded “UK” — for University of Kentucky, his alma mater — on uteri before he removed them.

Grimes is seeking almost $900,000 in reparations for the aftereffects of what she thinks was an unnecessary oophorectomy. She said that while she signed a consent form, she did not fully understand the consequences of having her ovaries removed at age 31.

For other stories involving Dr. Guiler posted at the Kentuck Law Blog, then click here.