Surgical negligence can be a very serious matter. When medical professionals act negligently when providing care in relation to a surgery, it can result in surgical errors occurring. Surgical errors can be very harmful to patients.

Recently, a jury reached a verdict in a case that involved allegations of surgical negligence. The case was from North Carolina. The case involved a woman who underwent a surgery in connection to cancer she had.

The woman's family alleged that a doctor who provided care in connection to the surgery acted negligently during the procedure and that this negligence resulted in a surgical sponge being left behind inside the woman.

According to the woman's family, the left-behind sponge caused the woman to suffer illness and infections. The woman's family further claimed that the woman was not able to receive radiation treatment and chemotherapy for her cancer because of the illness and infections.

In 2006, the woman died of cancer. Reportedly, the above-mentioned doctor no longer practices medicine. A lawsuit was brought by the woman's family in a court in North Carolina against the doctor in connection to the alleged negligence. The lawsuit was for medical malpractice, not wrongful death. A trial was held and the jury in this case recently reached its decision. The jury ruled in favor of the woman's family and awarded them a monetary judgment.

No patient should have to be subjected to surgical negligence. Thus, one hopes that all medical professionals make sure to act properly when providing surgical care to patients. One also hopes that medical professionals are held accountable when they commit harmful surgical negligence.

Source: Fayetteville Observer, "Jury orders former Fayetteville doctor to pay $6 million in malpractice suit," Ali Rockett, Oct. 17, 2012