(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

A Kamloops woman is suing Interior Health and a doctor, alleging a botched surgery on her vagina and labia has left her with permanent and life-altering injuries.

The woman, who is not being identified due the sensitive nature of the claim, sought medical help because she suffered from a condition called redundant labia that caused her pain when in sports and sexual intercourse.

In 2019, she had an appointment to have a portion of her labia surgically reduced and made to appear symmetrical, according to her statement of claim. But that's not what happened.

She said her entire labia and part of her vagina was removed, citing the surgical report written by Dr. Treissman, according to the civil claim. She will now have to undergo corrective surgery to repair the damage causing more pain and discomfort.

It wasn't a complicated surgery but she described chaotic post-surgical care that enlisted her friend to help with emergency surgery.

While in post-operation recovery, she began to bleed heavily and she alleges Dr. Treissman refused to see her, despite several attempts by nurses. She finally saw an emergency on-call surgeon who diagnosed her with multiple arterial hemorrhages and she needed to perform surgery immediately. However the patient was unable to undergo anaesthesia because she had just eaten. They also didn't have an operating room so the emergency surgeon created a makeshift operating room, donned a headlamp and moved the bed closer to the light in the room so she could see better.

According to the suit, the patient's friend was enlisted. 

"As (the surgeon) worked to stitch one side of the vagina (the plaintiff's friend) applied pressure to the opposite side to curb the bleeding as well as assisting (the surgeon) throughout the procedure," the statement of claim alleges. 

Bleeding continued and she returned to the hospital three times the following week seeking advice and care but was told it was normal. 

Dr. Treissman informed her one month after the surgery that she should be able to engage in sexual intercourse, but the pain was still too much to even attempt, the civil claim says.

She said the pain was worse than before the surgery and said her marriage and quality of life have suffered as well as her "self-esteem and sense of femininity."

She has developed scar tissue and deformity and now requires more surgery. 

She alleges the surgery and the after care were negligent. 

The civil claim alleges that the woman will have to undergo corrective surgery as a result of the first attempt by Dr. Treissman, and is seeking relief for past and future healthcare costs, along with other damages.

The civil suit lists both Dr. Treissman and Interior Health Authority as defendants in the case. Neither Interior Health, nor Dr. Treissman have responded to the claims. The claims have not been proven in court. 

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