Vernon Jubilee Hospital (File Photo: Vernon Matters)

By James Peters

Wrong Ankle

Woman sues IH and two surgeons, claiming they operated on the wrong ankle

Mar 9, 2022 | 3:30 PM

A Kamloops rancher is suing Interior Health and a pair of surgeons in Vernon after they operated on the wrong ankle.

According to a Notice of Civil Claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Julie Alison Reid checked into Vernon Jubilee Hospital on March 5, 2020, for an arthroscopic fusion surgery on her left ankle.

In the claim, Reid states she spoke to Drs. Julian Sernik and Robert Hillis prior to the procedure, confirming the correct limb, which was then marked and signed.

After putting her under general anaesthetic, Reid says the defendants “performed an arthroscopic examination and debridement” of her right ankle, removing cartilage. She says the procedure continued for 90 minutes until the surgeons were informed by circulating nurses that they were operating on the wrong ankle.

Reid says Dr. Sernik informed her of the mistake about two hours after the surgical procedure ended.

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None of the claims has been proven in court.

Reid claims negligence and breach of contract on the part of the surgeons and Interior Health as the operators of Vernon Jubilee Hospital, and says that caused her to suffer physical and psychological injuries.

She is suing for unspecified damages and costs.