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Surgical equipment left inside a patient afflicts Army vet

On Behalf of | Jan 17, 2018 | Medical Malpractice

When a person in Louisiana or anywhere across the U.S. needs to have a surgical procedure, there is a fundamental expectation that the medical professionals will behave in an appropriate manner and not make inexcusable mistakes. One that is of specific concern is if there is a surgeon mistake and a piece of equipment is left inside a patient. When this happens, it can lead to a worsened condition and even death. For people who have been harmed by this type of error, it is imperative to speak to a legal professional about a possible medical malpractice lawsuit.

A military veteran has filed a lawsuit after it was found that a piece of surgical equipment was left in his body after a procedure. The case was filed in Connecticut and the surgery was performed in 2013. The man, now 61, was feeling dizzy and had pain in his abdomen while he underwent an MRI. The MRI was stopped and he was X-rayed. A scalpel was subsequently seen inside him close to his stomach and intestines. It was removed in April of last year. The man, a veteran of the U.S. Army, has filed a lawsuit due to this mistake.

No mistake made during a medical procedure should be considered “minor,” but since medical professionals are human, a simple and non-damaging mistake can be expected. Provided there are no injuries and long-term damage, it can be considered a mishap that was not significant. Leaving a piece of surgical equipment like a scalpel inside a patient is not a small mistake. Regardless of whether it came about due to a failure to adhere to protocol or simply because the doctor and staff were not paying attention is irrelevant. What is important is that it can cause damage to the patient, make them sick and lead to more procedures and even death if it is not caught and removed. With the medical costs and other problems that can arise, a legal filing is often necessary.

A military veteran who had a surgical procedure five years ago was experiencing pain and other issues when he underwent an MRI one year ago. Shockingly, it was found that he had a scalpel in his body from the previous procedure. Given the risks that he faced and might still deal with as time moves forward, he is filing a lawsuit. Those who have faced a similar medical mistake should do the same with help from a qualified attorney experienced in cases involving equipment left inside a patient.

Source: wxyz.com, “Veteran suing Connecticut VA hospital over scalpel left inside his body,” Justin Boggs, Jan. 15, 2018

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