Maine Patient Billed Nearly $300K for Botched Hip Replacement Surgery

Lawsuit alleges surgeon made multiple mistakes, leaving woman with permanent impairments

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A 71-year-old Maine woman is suing an orthopedic surgeon and a local hospital, alleging the surgeon made several mistakes during a 2019 hip replacement surgery that left her with permanent physical impairments and nearly $300,000 in medical bills. Expert testimony claims the surgeon read the wrong X-ray, sawed a gap in the patient's femur, and missed a crucial window to fix the initial issues, leading to multiple additional surgeries.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about medical errors and the high costs patients can face when things go wrong during routine procedures. It also raises questions about oversight and accountability for highly paid specialists, as the surgeon involved is one of the highest-paid physicians at the hospital system.

The details

According to the lawsuit, orthopedic surgeon Peter Copithorne performed two surgeries on patient Mary Shea in 2019 for a right hip replacement. Copithorne allegedly read the wrong X-ray, sawed a gap in Shea's femur, and failed to address issues from the first surgery in a timely manner, leading to a second, more invasive procedure. Shea later had to undergo additional surgeries by a different doctor to try to repair the damage. An expert witness testified that Shea's medical bills were $250,000 more than a previous successful hip replacement she had in 2013.

  • Copithorne performed the first hip replacement surgery on Shea in 2019.
  • Several months after the first surgery, Copithorne performed a second, more invasive surgery on Shea.
  • Shea later had additional surgeries in Portland by a different doctor to try to repair the damage from Copithorne's treatment.

The players

Mary Shea

A 71-year-old woman from Milbridge, Maine who is suing an orthopedic surgeon and a local hospital over a botched hip replacement surgery.

Peter Copithorne

The orthopedic surgeon who performed two hip replacement surgeries on Shea in 2019, allegedly making multiple mistakes that left her with permanent physical impairments.

Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital

The hospital where Copithorne performed the surgeries on Shea and is also named in the lawsuit.

Victoria Brander

A physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago who testified as an expert witness in the case.

Elizabeth Kayatta

The attorney representing Mary Shea in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“The elements of her damage include extraordinary medical expenses, loss of earnings, earning capacity and other economic loss; pain and suffering; loss of enjoyment of life; and permanent impairment and disfigurement.”

— Elizabeth Kayatta, Attorney for Mary Shea (Bangor Daily News)

“Shea's recovery was on a 'positive trajectory' after the first operation until a second failed surgery several months later that left her with a centimeter long gap in her femur, a bone that's essential for mobility.”

— Victoria Brander, Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist (Bangor Daily News)

What’s next

The trial is expected to last all this week, with the jury set to decide on the merits of Shea's lawsuit against the surgeon and hospital.

The takeaway

This case highlights ongoing concerns about medical errors and the high costs patients can face when things go wrong during routine procedures, as well as the need for greater oversight and accountability for highly paid specialists.