PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A former hospital patient has filed a lawsuit seeking up to $4 million after she was infected with hepatitis C during surgery in Portland, the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit -- which was first reported by The Oregonian -- was filed against Providence Health & Services and the Oregon Anesthesiology Group, claiming their negligence led to her hepatitis diagnosis.

The lawsuit stems from the patient's hand surgery in August 2021 at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, where OAG was contracted to provide anesthesiology services.

The lawsuit claims the “defendants failed to follow infection control rules,” and notified the plaintiff in July 2024 that they might have exposed her to hepatitis B, hepatitis, and HIV.

In October 2024, lab tests confirmed the defendants infected the plaintiff with hepatitis C, which caused physical harm, pain, mental suffering, and emotional distress for the patient, who is identified in court documents as K.S.

Court documents include a declaration from a senior-level physician who was hired to conduct an independent evaluation of the plaintiff’s infection in this case.

In the court documents, signed December 30, the doctor stated, “After reviewing plaintiff's historical medical file and liquid biopsy, it is my opinion to degree of medical probability that plaintiff's surgery at Providence is most likely the source of her hepatitis infection, as opposed to some other potential source.”

The lawsuit also included a letter from Providence notifying the patient about the possible disease exposure, stating the hospital was conducting a review of the incident and was working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the Oregon Health Authority.

“This comprehensive and expert review will help us ensure this doesn't happen again. We deeply regret the concern this is no doubt causing for you, and we are committed to ensuring you have the information and resources you need,” Providence wrote, according to the court documents.

On Friday, the plaintiff’s attorney, Michael Fuller told KOIN 6 News, “We expect to present the case to a local jury sometime later this year."

Providence Health & Services declined to comment on the pending litigation. Oregon Anesthesiology Group has not responded to KOIN 6 News’ request for comment.

The lawsuit comes after Oregon health officials along with Providence and Legacy health systems announced in July 2024 that more than 2,000 patients might have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis after a protocol breach at Portland-area hospitals, including Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center and Willamette Falls Medical Center.

In the announcement, a spokesperson for Providence said the hospital learned that a physician might not have followed Providence’s infection control practices during some procedures at local hospitals.

The physician was employed by the Oregon Anesthesiology Group, which no longer provides services for Providence, the hospital system spokesperson previously said, noting the physician no longer worked for OAG.

Later, a federal class action lawsuit was filed against Providence and OAG citing negligence.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.