A woman had laparoscopic gynecologic surgery to remove cysts on her ovaries. The surgeon failed to recognize that during the procedure he perforated her intestine. Despite continued complaints of abdominal pain the next day, the physician advised her it was 'normal' post-operative pain, and this woman died the following day. 

An autopsy revealed a through and through perforation of the intestines causing bowel contents, to leak into her abdomen. She became acutely ill and died from a massive infection throughout her body.