Mother Files Medical Malpractice Lawsuit After Sponge is Left in Body
After a surgery or C-section delivery, objects such as surgical tools and equipment may be inadvertently left inside the patient’s body. While this is never a good idea, it does happen sometimes and can lead to medical complications.
This happened to a South Carolina resident. She recently filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Sentara Healthcare, alleging that a surgical sponge was left inside her body after she gave birth at a Sentara hospital in Virginia.
The woman claims she only discovered that a sponge was left inside her body after experiencing complications after her delivery. According to the lawsuit, the object caused an infection, and required an additional medical procedure to remove it.
The lawsuit states that the sponge was “not intended to be left inside the patient” and “served no beneficial medical purpose.” It is still unclear how the sponge was left behind, as standard surgical protocols should have been followed before, during, and after the procedure.
The plaintiff is seeking approximately damages to cover medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Retained Surgical Items
Retained surgical items are generally considered a “never event” in healthcare, meaning they are preventable and should not occur under proper protocols. These errors can lead to serious complications and almost always raise significant legal concerns of medical malpractice.
Common examples include:
- Sponges or gauze (the most frequent)
- Surgical instruments (forceps, clamps)
- Needles or fragments of broken devices
Because these objects are not meant to remain in the body, their presence is considered preventable.
Retained surgical items can cause a range of health issues, such as:
- Infection or abscess formation
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Chronic pain
- Bowel obstruction or other life-threatening complications.
In some cases, symptoms may not appear immediately and can take weeks, months, or even years to surface.
These incidents are often linked to breakdowns in hospital protocols, including:
- Miscounts of instruments or sponges
- Communication failures among surgical staff
- Emergency or complex procedures where normal safeguards may be rushed
- Inadequate use of tracking technology (like sponge-count systems)
Retained surgical items can be a basis for a medical malpractice claim because they typically fall below the accepted standard of care. Patients harmed by retained surgical items may be entitled to damages for:
- Additional surgeries to remove the item
- Medical expenses and ongoing treatment
- Lost income or diminished earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
Contact Us Today
Doctors and hospitals hold the lives of their patients in their hands. If mistakes are made, it can lead to life-changing injuries with serious consequences.
If a doctor or nurse caused you to suffer from an injury or worsened condition, seek legal help from a Columbia medical malpractice lawyer from Simmons Law Firm. We have a long history of representing victims of medical negligence throughout South Carolina. Schedule a consultation today to see how we can help you. Call (803) 779-4600 or fill out the online form.
Source:
13newsnow.com/article/news/health/south-carolina-mother-sues-sentara-healthcare-claims-sponge-left-inside-her-after-childbirth/291-5096ff67-9fee-41be-95a9-d788e3119401
