Surgical team members may use a variety of tools during any type of operation and keeping track of all these objects might not always be so simple. However, the difference between losing an object and unintentionally leaving an item in a patient may be vast in nature, as the latter could pose a significant threat to the well-being of a patient. While surgical errors involving the retention of foreign objects may be rare in North Carolina, they continue to occur and those who experience similar forms of negligence may be left various a variety of health complications.
Foreign objects
There are a variety of objects surgical team members might unintentionally leave inside a patient during surgery. These could range anywhere from sponges to surgical instruments and the presence of a foreign object in one’s body could expose a person to numerous health risks. Similar issues could increase the risks a person might suffer a serious infection and infections can create dire health concerns and may spread rapidly through one’s body.
Foreign object retention could also increase the risks of health concerns such as sepsis or lead to bladder or bowel obstructions. Studies indicate that such issues may also prompt a need to undergo a medical procedure to remove the object, and there may be numerous risks associated with such emergency measures. Foreign objects could also pose a threat of perforating organs and the repercussions of foreign object retention may also prove fatal at times.
Surgical negligence
Surgical errors that occur under similar scenarios may pose a substantial risk to a person’s well-being. Individuals in North Carolina who suffer serious harm or lose someone close due to such negligence may face an understandable desire for justice and they could choose to consult with an attorney for advice on the next steps to take. An attorney can evaluate every aspect of a client’s situation and assist in preparing to seek the full amount of restitution entitled through a claim against the party or parties deemed responsible.