An emergency or elective surgical procedure is a stressful life event. A patient’s hope is for a speedy and pain-free recovery with no complications. Unfortunately, in some cases of medical negligence, there can be significant surgical errors that result in prolonged hospital stays, additional surgeries, and sometimes death. One of many reasons that patients file medical malpractice lawsuits is for the unintended retention of surgical instruments. Despite the means available to prevent these occurrences, foreign objects staying behind after surgery continue to be a significant problem. When medical personnel inadvertently leave surgical tools or sponges in patients, it can result in various health issues or fatalities. Surgical instruments may be left behind due to human error, distractions, or unexpected emergencies during surgery. Some retained surgical instruments can go undetected for years if they cause no problems and may be discovered by accident.
