Investigation stopped for Florida doctor who made critical mistake and removed ovary and fallopian tube from a patient
Florida – A Florida physician has officially relinquished his medical license following a lawsuit that stemmed from a serious medical error during a colonoscopy performed at endoscopy center. The incident, which unfolded at Premier Endoscopy Center, has led to the end of Dr. Scott Wiesen’s medical career in the state.
The matter came to light after patient Elaine Bredehoft filed a lawsuit alleging malpractice during a routine colonoscopy in 2023. According to details presented in the case, the procedure took a devastating turn when Dr. Wiesen punctured Bredehoft’s colon and, in a critical mistake, removed her ovary and fallopian tube under the misapprehension that they were colon polyps. The error left Bredehoft in severe pain upon waking from anesthesia.
Despite the evident distress, records indicate that approximately half an hour passed before an ambulance was summoned to take Bredehoft to NCH North Hospital. There, a different physician performed an emergency operation and discovered the extent of the injuries, stitching up a bleeding colon with over fifty stitches. Complications didn’t end there—Bredehoft’s recovery was hampered by a severe infection, resulting in another hospital stay and ongoing wound care at home.
In the wake of the incident, the Florida Department of Health began investigating Dr. Wiesen. However, with his voluntary surrender of his license, the investigation about the Naples endoscopy center incident is now closed. The May 14 report by WINK News confirmed that Dr. Wiesen is no longer permitted to practice medicine in Florida.
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The lawsuit further revealed that Dr. Wiesen was reportedly suffering from dementia at the time of the procedure. After the surgery, he retired from practice, but confusion over retirement protocol left his license technically active until this week. Dr. Wiesen’s wife, when asked, explained that her husband was unaware he was required to notify the state health department of his retirement.
For the patient, the impact of that day’s events lingers, both physically and emotionally. Meanwhile, the case underscores the importance of safeguards and timely communication within Florida’s healthcare system—raising difficult questions about physician oversight, patient safety, and the processes meant to protect those who place their trust in the hands of medical professionals.
While Dr. Wiesen’s long medical career has now come to a close, the repercussions of this case may resonate throughout the state’s medical community as both patients and practitioners reflect on how such errors can occur—and what must be done to prevent them in the future.
