Iowa Woman Dies After Hernia Surgery as Family Sues Doctor and Nurses for Dismissing ‘Very Uncomfortable’ Symptoms

In May 2024, an Iowa woman died after being discharged from a hospital following hernia surgery. Two years later, her family sued the doctor who treated her and the two nurses who cared for her.

Dr. Edwin Vincent Wehling, registered nurses Brandi Oesch and Tammy Roberts, who worked at Decatur County Hospital in Leon, have been accused of medical malpractice and wrongful death by the family of Laura Belt.

Belt was 46 when she was admitted to the hospital for a hernia repair surgery on April 30, 2024. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, Dr. Wehling performed the surgery. Shortly after, Belt reported that a brown liquid was constantly draining from her surgical incision.

However, nurses Oesch and Roberts allegedly told her that it was normal for patients to experience stool drainage following hernia surgery. Despite her concerns, Belt was discharged from the hospital a week later.

Her condition did not improve after she returned home, and her incision site continued to leak. She also did not have a bowel movement for a week after the surgery. The lawsuit states that Belt remained concerned about the leakage and sent a picture to the nurses on May 9, 2024.

The nurses allegedly reassured her that she did not need to worry. “Consulted with Brandi, she states all is normal. Brandi said the incision will drain like this for at least a month.” Roberts said in a message to Belt after receiving the picture.

Belt’s family further alleges that a day later, Belt consulted Oesch through a video call, but once again, her concerns were dismissed, and the nurse did not tell her to seek medical treatment.

As Belt’s condition continued to worsen, she was taken to the Wayne County Hospital on May 11, 2024. Doctors determined that she developed an infection during her hernia surgery, which led to septic shock. This life-threatening condition occurs when an infection causes dangerously low blood pressure and cellular dysfunction that can trigger organ failure.

Four days later, Belt died from sepsis caused by a bowel perforation. Her family has also accused Oesch of altering Belt’s electronic medical records at Decatur County Hospital to indicate that the doctor had prescribed her an antibiotic after the video call on May 10.

“This nurse advised I would call Dr. Wehling and advise. This nurse notified Dr. Wehling, and he requested (the antibiotic) Bactrim to be started,” Oesch allegedly wrote in a back-charted entry. On the other hand, Dr. Wehling, Oesch, and Roberts have maintained their innocence.

In his defense, Dr. Wehling said that Belt may have died of a pre-existing medical condition that caused complications following her surgery. The three defendants will be facing trial in August this year.

Additionally, the Iowa Board of Medicine has also launched an investigation into Dr. Wehling.

The board has charged him with professional incompetence and with practicing in a manner that is harmful or detrimental to the public. Wehling will appear before the board for a hearing in September 2026. However, the board has not confirmed whether the charges are related to Belt’s case or any other case.