Kidney Stone Patient On Dialysis For Life Because of Physician Error
Hawaii Federal District Court Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi awarded $7,378,872.57 to Siuila Mamea who did not receive proper medical treatment for multiple kidney stones in 1997-8 at Tripler Army Medical Center.
As a result of the improper care, Mrs. Mamea has undergone dialysis three times a week for the last five years. Without a successful kidney transplant, she must receive dialysis for the rest of her life. Her husband, Felise Mamea received $150,000 for damage to their relationship as husband and wife.
Judge Kobayashi found that Tripler Army Medical Center urology residents (1) treated the kidney stones in a way that damaged her kidneys, and (2) failed to implement the follow-up treatment for management of Mrs. Mamea’s kidney stone disease.
Mrs. Mamea was in her mid-20’s when she was treated by Tripler residents, and thought she was fine when discharged. Because the Tripler urology residents failed to prescribe ongoing medical management, several years later her physician found that her kidneys had been irreversibly damaged.
It is extraordinarily rare for a patient on dialysis to become pregnant, but Mrs. Mamea did. She gave birth to a healthy baby girl last year, giving her a reason a reason to live.
Judith Ann Pavey and Mark D. Kamitomo were co-counsel for the case. Ms. Pavey said she is pleased with the verdict and hopes that Mrs. Mamea will receive a life-extending kidney transplant in the near future.
If Tripler appeals the verdict, the appeal process could extend her suffering for at least 2 more years.