Nurse: Surgeon Threw Human Tissue on Her

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A Colorado nurse says a heart surgeon tossed bloody human tissue at her during an operation, then the hospital demoted her after she complained.

Sonja Morris is suing Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. In papers filed Friday, Morris claims that Dr. Bryan Mahan tossed a piece of human heart tissue at her during a 2008 open-heart surgery. Morris said the 4-by-6-inch piece of protective heart tissue hit her on the leg and that Mahan joked about throwing it.

Morris says she was demoted off a heart surgery team after complaining about the tissue incident and other harassment.

The lawsuit names only the hospital, not the surgeon. A Memorial Hospital spokeswoman declined to comment on the lawsuit.