Objects Left Behind After Surgery in New York & New Jersey
Going through surgery can be a nerve-wracking experience. You know you are doing what is best for your health, but it still requires you to put complete faith in your surgeon and his or her team. You rightfully expect that they will do everything in their power to make you as healthy as possible. There is absolutely no excuse for any surgeon to leave behind a foreign object, jeopardizing your surgery and your overall health.
At MetroLaw.Com, we have the utmost respect for members of the medical community, but we also believe that they should be held accountable when their negligence leads to your injuries. Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience handling medical malpractice claims against doctors, nurses, hospitals and other health care professionals.
What Is A “Retained Foreign Object?”
A retained foreign object is any type of object, surgical or otherwise, that has been left behind in the body and sewn up after surgery. You may think that you would notice a mistake like this right away, but sometimes these problems go years before they are discovered by an X-ray, MRI or other test. Just because it took a long time to discover, the object could still have caused great harm to your body. At this point, you will need another surgery to take out the foreign object.
In most cases of a retained foreign object, a surgeon or doctor accidentally leaves a surgical instrument behind. It is also common for the nurse who performs counts to miscount the number of sponges or clamps. A needle might break, and sometimes the surgical team will decide that leaving it is less dangerous than attempting to remove it. Our lawyers will protect your rights if you have any of the following retained objects after your surgery:
- Surgical sponge
- Clamps
- Needles
- Broken needles
If you have endured surgery after a catastrophic injury, such as brain or spinal cord damage, a retained foreign object can lead to further and more severe complications. We will help you take immediate action, and make sure you get the proper medical treatment you need as soon as possible.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about your rights and options after your surgical mishap, we are here to give you answers. Open during weekly business hours, we offer weekend and evening appointments as well. Spanish and Portuguese translations are available in office. Contact us online, or call 800-469-6476 today to schedule your free initial consultation.