Abby Lee Miller Apologizes to Doctors Dropped From Malpractice Lawsuit for 'Distress, Reputational Harm and Emotional Impact'

Abby Lee Miller’s medical malpractice lawsuit has taken a sharp turn.

The former Dance Moms star, 60, has dropped legal claims against two doctors she had named in her 2025 lawsuit, and formally apologized to them as part of the resolution. Hooman Melamed and Paul Dwan are no longer defendants in the case, which stems from Miller’s allegation that a catheter was left inside her body after a 2020 procedure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

The lawsuit itself has not been fully resolved. Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital remains listed as a defendant, and a jury trial remains scheduled for July 2027.

In a statement shared with People on August 24, Miller “expressly acknowledged” that Melamed and Dwan were not responsible for the retained object at the center of her complaint.

“Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan have consistently denied any negligence or fault in connection with Ms. Miller’s care,” the statement reads. “As part of the resolution, Ms. Miller expressly acknowledges that neither Dr. Melamed or Dr. Dwan are at fault for the retained foreign object, and Ms. Miller has agreed to apologize and retract any prior public statements that disparaged Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan, or their respective medical care and treatment.”

The statement also said claims that either doctor left the catheter inside Miller were “made without factual bases,” and that “any prior statements should no longer be relied upon or repeated.”

Miller’s apology went beyond simply withdrawing the doctors from the suit.

“Ms. Miller apologizes to Dr. Melamed and Dr. Dwan for any distress this lawsuit has caused, as well as the reputational harm and emotional impact caused by Ms. Miller’s false and defamatory statements,” the statement continues.

It added that any negative past statements made by Miller or on her behalf about the doctors’ care are retracted and should not be repeated.

Miller’s original complaint alleged that she experienced abdominal pain after an apparently otherwise successful spinal surgery in 2020. According to the complaint, Miller said she told her medical team about the pain before a CT scan eventually revealed a retained catheter.

Doctors then performed an emergency procedure to remove the object, the complaint alleged.

Miller’s lawsuit seeks $1.4 million and includes allegations of medical negligence, professional negligence and medical battery, among other claims.

Her attorney, Nadine Lewis, previously said Miller “suffered for years from an object left inside of her during spinal surgery” and alleged that doctors failed to order imaging earlier.

The case now moves forward without Melamed and Dwan attached to those claims.