Sponges, Instruments, and Medical Devices Left Inside Patient During Surgery

During surgery, it is important that surgeons and medical staff follow correct surgical procedures to ensure that the surgery goes well. Proper procedures mean that surgeons keep track of instruments, sponges, and all the other many pieces of equipment that are required for an important surgical procedure. Unfortunately, when staff are negligent, items can be left inside patient and may be sewn into the patient after surgery. While it can seem incredible that these types of surgery errors occur in Miami and across South Florida, each year patients suffer serious complications due to sponges, medical instruments, and other items being left inside them after surgery.

Items left inside a patient after surgery can cause internal bleeding, organ rupture, and infection. Sharp surgical instruments, especially, can cause interior bleeding and can damage organs permanently. In almost all cases, this type of surgical error is an example of medical malpractice in Miami and Florida, since there is no excuse for leaving items behind in a patient during surgery. Proper surgical procedure and careful checks before finishing the surgery can help prevent this type of error. If you have suffered an injury because a sponge or another medical device has been left inside your body during surgery, contact the Flaxman Law Group legal team for free legal advice. You may have a personal injury claim in Miami or your community, and pursuing your claim can help you gain compensation that can help pay for medical costs, long-term care, lost wages, and other expenses.

Surgical errors that cause items to be left inside a patient’s body after surgery can occur for a number of reasons:

• poor staff training
• poor hospital policies
• inefficient communication between medical staff
• inadequate patient monitoring
• misdiagnosis
• understaffing

In many cases, when items are left inside a patient after surgery, the problem is made worse by poor post-surgery monitoring. Medical staff may not realize the error right away, and the patient's complaints of pain may be dismissed as regular after-surgery aches and pains. When staff do not notice the error in time, serious infection and further complications can be the result. A patient who does not receive prompt medical attention after this type of mistake has been made can suffer fatal injuries or permanent injuries.

The personal injury team at the Flaxman Law Group has dealt with thousands of medical malpractice and personal injury claims in Miami and across South Florida. They can recognize the red flag signs of malpractice and can help you determine whether you have a legal claim or not. They can also help investigate the situation and can help secure medical records to help you get to the bottom of your injuries.

Have you suffered a surgical error in Miami or South Florida? Contact the Flaxman Law Group legal team today at 866-352-9626 to arrange for a free accident consultation to discuss your situation. The Flaxman Law Group has three offices conveniently located in southern Florida and can also visit your hospital room, home, or workplace if you are too injured to travel.