Surgery, regardless of the type, is usual a somewhat risky proposition. For many, however the prospect of not undergoing a particular medical procedure is much more dangerous than the risks associated with it. For that reason, throughout the Pittsburgh area individuals decide to undergo surgeries each day.

One of the most common surgical errors is leaving instruments or other items used during a surgery in a patient. This mistake occurs despite the adoption at many hospitals of checklists designed to reconcile the number of pieces of equipment used, by counting both before and after a surgery is complete.

Recently, a hospital located in the United States was fined by the state in which it is located after it was discovered that a towel was left inside a patient. The patient had undergone abdominal surgery at least four months before a second surgery was performed to remove the towel. In the time between the two surgeries she had returned to the hospital, complaining of vomiting, pain and nausea.

It is not clear what caused the towel to be missed during the first surgery. Though this type of thing can happen in any surgery, it reportedly happens most often under the following circumstances:

• A patient is undergoing an emergency surgery.
• The individual being operated on is obese.
• The surgery being performed is complex.

It is not clear if, in addition to the state fine, the hospital and those responsible for the surgical error will also face a medical malpractice lawsuit. Situations such as this one are common catalysts for such civil lawsuits.

Source: The Fresno Bee, "Saint Agnes fined $50,000; left towel in patient," Barbara Anderson, Aug. 30, 2012

Our Pennsylvania law firm handles medical malpractice cases, including those pertaining to the type discussed in today's post. Please visit our Pittsburgh surgical errors page to learn more about us.