Woman Suffers Septic Shock After Shannon Surgery, Sues Hospital and Doctors

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Tom Green County woman is suing two doctors and Shannon Medical Center, alleging a bowel perforation during a laparoscopic hysterectomy and delayed recognition of the injury caused sepsis, multiple failed surgeries and a permanent scar running from her chest to her pelvis. 

Michele Dierschke filed her second amended petition May 12 in the 51st Judicial District Court under Cause No. A250355C. The petition names Dr. Deborah R. Hajovsky, Shannon Medical Center and Dr. Kendall Miller. 

According to the petition, Dierschke underwent an emergency appendectomy in January 2024. On Feb. 20, 2024, Hajovsky performed an elective laparoscopic hysterectomy at a Shannon Medical Center hospital. During the procedure, the petition states, Hajovsky perforated Dierschke’s bowel, an area outside the normal surgical field. 

Dierschke returned to the hospital Feb. 25 with severe abdominal pain and was admitted. Her condition deteriorated over three days to the point of sepsis, the filing says. From Feb. 26 through 28, Miller served as her hospitalist. The petition alleges Miller failed to recognize that bowel perforation was high on the differential diagnosis given the recent surgery and symptoms, and delayed requesting surgical or gastrointestinal consultations until Feb. 28. Instead, the petition states, he ordered staff to advance her diet. 

On Feb. 28, surgeons explored her abdomen, found the perforation and attempted repair, which failed. A second repair attempt on March 4 also failed. Dierschke was transferred March 8 to St. David’s, where she underwent another operation March 12. After placement of drains and antibiotic therapy, she was discharged March 25. The petition says she suffered peritonitis, septic shock, bowel resection and a large permanent scar. 

Dierschke seeks damages for past and future physical pain and mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement and medical expenses. She has requested a jury trial. 

Hajovsky filed an answer in October 2025, generally denying the allegations and asserting multiple defenses under Chapter 74, including limitations on non-economic damages, proportionate responsibility and claims that any injuries resulted from pre-existing conditions or intervening causes. 

Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code protects doctors and health care providers from high costs in medical lawsuits by limiting non-economic damages, requiring early expert reports, and enforcing strict pre-suit notice rules.

Shannon Medical Center has also denied the claims and raised similar defenses. Miller filed his answer June 26. He denies the allegations, specially excepts to the damages pleading and asserts intervening causes, pre-existing conditions and Chapter 74 protections. 

All defendants have demanded a jury trial. 

A proposed order on an agreed motion for continuance was filed July 23. A motion hearing scheduled for July 31 on a motion to quash was canceled. The case is set for a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m. October 19, 2026, and a jury trial at 8 a.m. November 2, 2026, before Judge Carmen Dusek.