Wagner Reese, a leading Indiana medical malpractice law firm, is investigating serious sterilization failures and surgical delays at Franciscan Health’s Indianapolis campus that may have placed patients at risk of infection, prolonged suffering, and life-altering complications.
Recent reports indicate that patients scheduled for surgery at Franciscan Health Indianapolis in August 2025 were informed (sometimes only days before their procedures) that their operations would be delayed or moved to other facilities due to sterilization problems and technological breakdowns in the hospital’s surgical equipment supply chain.
At the same time, legal alerts from other Indiana firms have suggested that the failures may be tied not only to logistical issues but also to water contamination and third-party sterilization breakdowns, potentially exposing patients to catastrophic infections, sepsis, organ failure, or even death.
What Happened at Franciscan Health?
According to Fox59 and other reports, Franciscan Health Indianapolis began rescheduling surgeries in mid-August 2025 after discovering problems with its sterilization process. One patient, who had been preparing for an abdominal surgery for weeks, described the devastating impact of having her surgery canceled just days before the scheduled date.
“When I got the call, I just kind of cried all weekend,” she told Fox59.
The hospital initially attributed the cancellations to “temporary, technological issues” that interrupted the timely supply of sterilized surgical equipment. However, further investigation indicates that the problems may have been more serious, involving contaminated water and sterilization failures by outside vendors.
As a result, multiple patients were forced to endure delays in critical surgeries, rescheduling at distant facilities, and heightened anxiety over whether previously completed surgeries may have exposed them to dangerous infections.
The Risks of Sterilization Failures
Hospital sterilization is a fundamental standard of care. When surgical instruments are not properly cleaned and sterilized, patients face an increased risk of contracting bloodborne pathogens, bacterial infections, and life-threatening complications.
Potential consequences of sterilization failure include:
- HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C transmission
- Sepsis and septic shock
- Organ failure
- Severe post-surgical infections
- Extended hospitalizations and repeat surgeries
- Emotional trauma and loss of trust in medical providers
Even when infections do not occur, patients whose surgeries are delayed often experience prolonged pain, worsening medical conditions, and significant emotional and financial burdens. For caregivers and families, the ripple effect can be devastating.
Legal and Ethical Duties of Hospitals
Hospitals are legally and ethically obligated to provide a safe, sterile environment for surgery. When sterilization systems fail — whether due to poor training, oversight lapses, or vendor negligence — patients pay the price.
Our personal injury lawyers have seen this before. In 2019, our firm represented multiple patients harmed by sterilization failures at Goshen Health, where a surgical technician’s failure to follow proper sterilization procedures placed thousands of patients at risk of HIV, Hepatitis, and other infections. In that case, Goshen Health admitted that instruments may not have been fully sterile for six months, leading to widespread patient testing, emotional distress, and potential long-term health consequences.
Just like in Goshen, the Franciscan Health situation raises serious concerns about systemic failures in oversight, staff training, and patient safety protocols.
How Wagner Reese Can Help
Wagner Reese, LLP has been representing Indiana patients in medical malpractice and hospital negligence cases for nearly three decades. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate sterilization failures, hold hospitals accountable, and pursue justice for patients harmed by these preventable errors.
We understand that each patient’s case is unique. Some may have suffered infections requiring hospitalization. Others may be living with emotional trauma after learning they were exposed to unsterile surgical instruments. Still others may have endured delays in critical surgeries, leading to worsening medical conditions.
Because of this, Wagner Reese pursues individual claims rather than class actions in sterilization failure cases. Each patient deserves their own voice, their own day in court, and compensation tailored to their specific injuries.
Our firm can help patients by:
- Investigating hospital sterilization records and identifying failures in procedure or oversight
- Coordinating medical testing for infections such as HIV, Hepatitis, and bacterial illnesses
- Documenting damages, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress
- Building strong malpractice claims to hold hospitals and third-party vendors accountable
- Pursuing compensation for long-term care, disability, or wrongful death when necessary
What Patients Should Do Now
If you or a loved one underwent surgery at Franciscan Health Indianapolis in recent months or if your surgery was unexpectedly delayed due to sterilization issues, we urge you to seek medical evaluation and testing for infections. This is particularly true if you have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, abdominal pain, nausea, or unexplained rashes. Keep all hospital correspondence and records related to your surgery or cancellation. Document your symptoms and experiences, including emotional distress, out-of-pocket costs, and disruptions to daily life.
Contact Wagner Reese Today
Contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to understand your rights and options. Finding out that your hospital failed to protect you from preventable harm is both alarming and distressing. Our personal injury law firm is committed to standing with patients against negligent healthcare providers who put profits or convenience ahead of safety.
If you received notice of a canceled or delayed surgery at Franciscan Health or if you experienced an infection or complication following surgery, you may have a legal claim. Call Wagner Reese today at 317-973-6682 or schedule a free consultation online.
About Wagner Reese
Founded in 1997, Wagner Reese is one of Indiana’s premier personal injury and medical malpractice law firms. With decades of experience and millions recovered for clients, our attorneys are dedicated to fighting for victims of negligence and ensuring accountability in healthcare.
