Trisha Stevens alleges failures in her post-surgical care allowed a severe infection to progress, resulting in amputations, paralysis and lasting disability.
PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon mother of six is seeking $68.5 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging that failures to recognize and treat a serious infection after a 2024 hysterectomy contributed to septic shock, multiple amputations and permanent paralysis.
Trisha Stevens, 46, and her husband, Brian Stevens, filed the lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court against several Portland-area medical providers. The defendants include Bridgetown Medical Group, Dr. Alvin Nakamura, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center, Legacy Health, Dr. Gregory Eilers and Dr. Robert Azar. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the defendants have not been found liable for Stevens’ injuries.
According to accounts of the complaint, Nakamura performed a robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy and removed Stevens’ fallopian tubes on Oct. 4, 2024. The lawsuit alleges pathology results available several days after the operation showed inflammation but were not properly reviewed or acted upon. Stevens returned for a postoperative appointment on Oct. 17, according to the complaint, before her condition worsened during the following days.
The lawsuit says Stevens experienced abdominal symptoms, a low-grade fever, diarrhea and significant bleeding before contacting Bridgetown Medical Group on Oct. 22. A nurse allegedly advised her to rest, drink fluids and seek further care if she experienced additional bleeding. About 13 hours later, according to the complaint, Stevens went to the emergency department at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center as her condition continued to deteriorate.
The complaint alleges Stevens showed signs of a serious infection when she reached the hospital and that providers failed to respond quickly enough to the developing medical emergency. It claims Eilers examined the surgical area and observed signs of infection but did not immediately test for infection or recommend emergency surgery. The lawsuit also alleges Azar initially recommended antibiotic treatment rather than immediate surgery. Those descriptions represent the plaintiffs’ allegations and have not been established as findings of medical negligence.
Stevens was eventually diagnosed with a Group A Streptococcus infection and developed septic shock and multiple organ failure, according to the lawsuit and published reports about the case. Her medical condition became so severe that doctors later amputated both legs above the knees and her right hand at the wrist. She also lost substantial portions of her left hand and tissue from her lips and tongue. The lawsuit says spinal cord damage left her paralyzed from the lower back down.
The medical crisis required a hospitalization lasting more than three months, according to published accounts of the complaint. Stevens now uses a wheelchair and requires extensive assistance with daily activities. Her husband, a Portland firefighter, has become one of her primary caregivers outside his working hours. The family says the injuries have fundamentally changed Stevens’ ability to care for herself and take part in activities with her children.
The lawsuit seeks $2.5 million for past medical costs and $6 million for anticipated future medical and care expenses. It also seeks $55 million for what the complaint describes as the profound and permanent loss of Stevens’ enjoyment of life. Brian Stevens is seeking another $5 million for loss of consortium, bringing the total damages request to $68.5 million. The requested amount is not a settlement or court award.
Legacy Health declined to discuss the allegations in detail because of the pending litigation, according to published reports. Other defendants either could not be reached or had not publicly responded to requests for comment in the reports reviewed. No trial date or final court determination had been announced, leaving the central questions about whether the medical care fell below the required standard and whether any alleged delays caused Stevens’ injuries to be resolved through the legal process.
The case remains pending in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Until evidence is presented and the defendants have an opportunity to respond through the court process, the claims of negligence remain allegations rather than established findings of wrongdoing.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.