Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit For Retained Surgical Instruments
According to the NCBI, the incidence of retained surgical objects after surgery is between 0.3 and 1.0 per 1,000 abdominal surgeries, and they take place due to lack of communication and organization between surgical staff during the procedure.
In most cases, the retained surgical objects are surgical instruments and sponges. With over 28 million procedures performed across the United States, it has been estimated that 1,500 cases of retained surgical instruments occur each year.
What is Involved in Retained Surgical Instrument Cases?
Medical Malpractice: Retained Surgical Instruments
Ever heard of the term gossypiboma? Probably not if you haven’t undergone a surgery where your surgeon left a sponge inside your body after closing up. Sponges aren’t the only thing that surgeons leave behind by mistake in their patient’s bodies. Scalpels, needles, forceps, clamps, suction tips, mops, scissors and tubes too, have been known to be left behind.
The malpractice angle
Sure this is an act of gross error or negligence that can jeopardize a patient’s life if severe post-operative infection sets in due to the presence of a foreign body.
It is a critical duty of the entire surgical team to take a full count of all surgical instruments and devices used during the operation and to ensure that nothing is missing. When this important surgical protocol has been violated, the medical malpractice angle surfaces.
Retained Surgical Instruments (RSI) can Potentially Destroy a Patient’s Health
Surgical instruments get retained when a surgeon or a member of the surgical team forgets to remove a surgical device used inside the patient’s body during surgery. These devices can include sponges, scalpels, clamps, needles, and several other items used during the procedure.
Retained Surgical Devices and Hospital Negligence
Injuries due to retained surgical instruments
