A 44-year-old Antiguan woman has initiated legal proceedings against a surgeon she alleges performed a negligent hiatal hernia operation that resulted in years of debilitating symptoms and significant financial losses. Ananthsa McDonald of Powell’s Estate filed the claim with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court on November 26, citing severe complications from a Nissen fundoplication procedure conducted in June 2020 that ultimately required corrective surgery in Germany.
The medical saga began when McDonald first experienced chest pain and breathing difficulties in May 2020, leading to the recommendation for surgical intervention. Contrary to expectations of a six-week recovery, her condition deteriorated markedly post-operation. She reported persistent swallowing difficulties, substantial weight loss, chronic chest and back pain, and overwhelming fatigue that severely impacted her quality of life.
Court documents reveal that McDonald made repeated attempts to seek follow-up care from her original surgeon but received inadequate medical attention. Instead of addressing her physical symptoms, she was reportedly advised to undergo psychiatric evaluation. The deteriorating health condition forced her to resign from multiple positions, including her role at the Ministry of Health and employment at La Bussola Restaurant and Royalton Antigua.
In a turning point in late 2021, a new physician diagnosed an abnormally tight esophageal junction and recommended immediate corrective surgery. McDonald traveled to Munich in January 2022, where German surgeons performed an extensive six-hour laparoscopic procedure. The surgical report documented extreme narrowing at the stomach entrance and significant esophageal dilation, noting the condition risked reaching a ‘point of no return’ without timely intervention.
The lawsuit alleges the initial surgery created an excessively tight gastro-esophageal junction and claims the medical team refused to release McDonald’s complete medical records, thereby delaying crucial secondary treatment. While McDonald has since resumed full-time work as a lecturer, she continues to experience some residual symptoms.
The plaintiff seeks comprehensive damages covering pain and suffering, loss of earnings between 2020-2022, breach of contract, and breach of statutory duty. Special damages include medical expenses, international travel costs, accommodation fees for the German treatment, and compensation for lost income during her period of disability.
The named surgeon has declined to comment on the allegations, and no defense had been formally filed at the time of the court documents’ release.