Atlanta Woman Sues After Robotic Surgery Leaves Her in ICU for Months
A routine procedure turned into a three-month hospital stay, triggering a lawsuit against the hospital and the late surgeon.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
Star Button entered the operating room at Southern Regional Medical Center in Atlanta expecting to go home the same day. She stayed for nearly three months. The gap between expectation and reality has now become a legal battle.
Button suffered from chronic pain and heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. She chose a robotic hysterectomy because the method involves small incisions and a faster recovery. Instead of leaving within hours, she spent days in a coma. When she regained consciousness, she remained in the intensive care unit fighting infections and blood loss.
The lawsuit names the hospital and the surgeon, Dr. Beverly Love. It alleges the facility failed to maintain its equipment. It also claims the doctor did not apply the required level of skill. A second count asserts Dr. Love removed her right ovary without justification. An expert hired by Button’s lawyers stated the medical team failed to recognize and treat active bleeding according to standard protocols.
Dr. Love died after the procedure. His estate denies any wrongdoing. The lawyers argue that Button’s own medical history complicated the surgery. In a video call recorded after the operation, Dr. Love explained the shift in technique to Button’s husband. He said technical challenges prevented him from manipulating the uterus correctly. He could not access the blood vessels as planned, so he converted the procedure to a vaginal approach and stopped using the robot.
The surgery used a Da Vinci system made by Intuitive Surgical. The device is not a defendant in this case. From 2016 to 2025, the Food and Drug Administration logged at least 434 adverse events involving Da Vinci devices. Of those, at least 49 involved hysterectomies. An Intuitive Surgical spokesperson said the company has performed more than 20 million procedures globally. The spokesperson noted that FDA data does not prove causality between device use and injury.
Dr. Love practiced for more than 40 years. The Georgia Composite Medical Board kept him in good standing. However, the agency found no record of medical malpractice insurance for him. Georgia does not mandate such coverage for physicians. Only seven states require it. Button said she carries insurance to drive, yet the hospital began pointing fingers after the surgery.
Dr. Timothy Cowthorn, an OBGYN who is not involved in the case, recently completed his 1,000th robotic hysterectomy. He said the robot’s wristed instruments allow for precise movement. He believes the technology reduces complications and infections. He added that surgeons must be ready to operate without the machine if it fails.
Button’s recovery extended beyond the hospital. She said medical bills forced her to sell her home. The long absence from work cost her her job. Her marriage ended during the ordeal. She now deals with post-traumatic stress disorder and ongoing sepsis. She started a fundraiser to cover legal costs. Southern Regional Medical Center declined to comment due to pending litigation. It said its focus remains on providing high-quality care.
