Retained Foreign Objects Left Behind After Surgery
When you are undergoing surgery, you trust that your doctor and their medical team will treat you with the utmost care and efficiency. They are well-trained and experienced professionals who should be organized and focused on everything they are doing when you are under the knife. Unfortunately, everyone is prone to human error. Too often, doctors make mistakes during a procedure. One mistake that is commonly seen is leaving surgical tools and foreign objects in the body after the area has been closed. This ridiculous mistake can only be due to human error.
A variety of items have been reportedly left in bodies after procedures. The most common items include the following:
- Surgical sponges or gauze
- Towels
- Catheters
- Spare stitching materials
- Clamps
- Needles
- Scissors
- Scalpels
- Gloves
- Broken pieces of instruments
The severity of the consequences depends on the object left behind; a needle left behind could cause severe damage like if it punctured an organ. However, even something like sponge could cause a severe and deadly infection.
How do you know if there is a Retained Foreign Object in Your Body?
Some signs and symptoms associated with retained foreign object include the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Abdominal mass
- Blood in bodily fluids or stool
- Constipation
- Discoloration near incisions
- Overall decline in health
If you have recently undergone surgery, and are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. If it has been discovered that a retained foreign object was left in your body after a surgical procedure, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
Contact a Georgetown Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Retained foreign objects cause severe medical issues for a victim. If you are the victim of this type of medical malpractice, you understand how devastating it can be to find out such a huge mistake was made during your procedure. You probably experienced increased physical pain, emotional scarring, additional financial expenses, and more time spent away from work. This is all added to the burdens you were already feeling as a result of your initial surgery. The mistake of retained foreign objects should not happen to anyone, but you do not have to suffer alone. Our attorneys are waiting to provide you all of the legal advice and representation you need. The medical malpractice attorneys at Evans Moore, LLC understand how awful your circumstances are, and they are devoted to helping you get the compensation you deserve. To learn more about our team and legal services, contact our office at (843) 995-5000.
