This page provides information about what to do if you suffer a cut or perforated bowel or colon during a hysterectomy. This is a major medical mistake, and the surgeon should be held accountable. Once you've had a chance to review this page, please consider downloading one of our free consumer medical reports dealing with surgical errors.

Update: For frequently asked questions about cut, nicked, or severed bowels, colons, or ureters, check out this article.

Also take a look at this recent case result involving a client who suffered a severed ureter injury.


Many women have a hysterectomy performed for a broad variety of reasons. The hysterectomy can be performed in a number of ways including laparoscopically, through the use of an incision (laparotomy) through the vagina, and a combination of laparoscopy and vaginal access (vaginally assisted hysterectomy).

Medical and surgical errors can, and do, occur if the surgeon is not experienced, or fails to use the appropriate care. Unfortunately, surgical errors are not uncommon, so our firm wrote an in-depth report about the top 5 surgical errors and how you can avoid being a victim. Please take advantage of our free download.

The surgeon performing such a medical procedure, no matter what method he or she uses, must take great care to avoid cutting, nicking or entirely perforating (meaning damage by cutting) the patient’s bowel or colon. There is a danger associated with hysterectomies because the uterus and associated anatomic structures, like ovaries, are very close to various portions of a patient’s bowel and/or colon.

A surgeon who cuts, nicks or perforates a patient’s bowel or colon, may be guilty of medical malpractice. If such a perforation of the bowel or colon goes undiscovered, the contents of the bowel and/or stomach can spill out into the patient’s abdomen and create a significant disease process known as sepsis.

If you, or someone you know, suffered a bowel or colon perforation and suspect it was due to a surgical error, please contact our law firm so you can speak to an actual attorney for free. Our number is (800) 752-0042 or take a moment to fill out our quick contact form on the right side of the screen.


Additional information for you to peruse:

• Free consumer guide titled Top 10 Tips From an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorneys
• Statutes of limitations in medical malpractice cases in Virginia (VA) or North Carolina (NC).
• Discussion of the special “discovery rule” that applies to Virginia medical malpractice claims involving surgery sponges and tools left inside the body by a surgeon or doctor.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

We offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.