share: Medical Mistakes - When Things Go Very Wrong
Things usually go well in the surgery room. Right? Yes, for the most part. But medical mistakes are all too common, causing thousands of deaths in America every year, as well as even more injuries.
One issue is the problem of medical instruments, debris or other objects being left inside the bodies of patients after surgery has been completed.
Almost 5,000 patients have been injured in the last 5 years from having 'medical litter' left in their bodies. 70 people have died.
Another problem is that doctors sometimes know about something left inside a patients body but do not tell them for fear of worrying the patient (as if!), because it may be too difficult to remove and they do not feel what's left inside is dangerous or because they fear a lawsuit.
According to a report, "Those objects are inadvertently left behind in perhaps 1 of every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal operations, according to a 2003 estimate. UDFs are different, however, because doctors usually know they're there, but they either make no attempt to retrieve the devices or are unsuccessful when they try.
“In some cases, finding a 10/0 [gauge] needle would be like looking for a contact lens in a shag rug carpet,” Clarke said. “Or, you know exactly where it is, but medically retrieving it would not be worth the risk. You’re not going to dig apart the femur to get a quarter-inch screw.”"
SOURCE http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25120613/
But there are also serious consequences. According to this report, "LaCheryl Robinson, for instance, is convinced that the technician who performed a breast biopsy in April 2000 knew that the needle broke during the procedure. She’s angry that doctors discounted her symptoms and feelings until the lump appeared last winter.
“The radiologist said, ‘Oh my God, there’s a needle in your breast,’” recalled Robinson, 50, who works two jobs — as a machine operator and for a beer distributor — and cares for her ailing mother. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, at least it’s not cancer.”
“It’s still not fair,” she said. “That was eight years of suffering and not knowing.”
Representatives for POH Medical Center in Pontiac declined comment on Robinson’s case because of pending litigation. " SOURCE http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25120613/
Tell Us -
Should medical personnel be mandated to tell all patients of even a suspected item left in them after surgery, even though it may be harmless?
And have you experienced something similar and would like to share your story?
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Add a Comment13 Comments
I think I would like to know as it may affect my behavior. For example, I had surgery on my foot a few years ago. While I feel comfortable walking, I may not participate in more high-impact activities like karate if I found out I had a needle (for example) still left in my foot. Maybe my bone has grown around it at this point, but it's still something I need to be mindful of.
And if it were a child, oh please tell me the doctor would have the heart to tell the parent. I just can't imagine how something lodged in a child would change over time.
Fortunately, nobody I know is walking around with medical debris, but from your post, they may be -- but might not have been told.
June 16, 2008 - 3:36pmThis Comment
When did it become acceptable to have stray needles and screws left inside a body after a surgery? Would you be OK with taking your car for an oil change and the mechanic dropping some extra parts into the radiator, only to have you wonder why it blew up down the road?
None of this is ok. And why are we even entertaining the thought of mandating that we be told if something was left inside?
It shouldn't happen in the first place!
How about holding surgical staff to a professional standard of taking responsibility for a complete 'job well done' by tracking the inventory of instruments and equipment present and used during a given ER procedure?
With all our advancements, i find it disconcerting how simple things, like attention to detail, slip through the cracks.
Kristin Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
June 16, 2008 - 6:07pmlagunanaturalhealth.com
I had abdominal surgery 2 1/2 years ago. After surgery, I was just told everything was fine.
At my 2 week follow-up appt., I was told that a stitching needle was "lost" inside of me and that the surgeon did stop the surgery to try to look for it, but decided it was more dangerous to keep me under than it was for the needle to be left inside.
I was X-rayed on the table where they could see the needle. I was X-rayed again 2 weeks later and it was verified on location.
I was told that my body would encapsulate the stitching needle and it would never cause a problem ... but it doesn't stop me from worrying!
I also asked the surgeon why he waited 2 weeks to tell me and he said he didn't want to worry me.
Debbie ~
October 24, 2008 - 1:58pmthat's nonsense. like all of us, your medical team needs to be held to a professional standard. his response to your concern is part of the problem i call 'the dismantling of america'--- in this case, it's the lowering of standards and practices.
what happened to you is unacceptable and the matter should be properly investigated.
be aware that the fact that you worry about this could cause you unnecessary stress and anxiety, and may lead to other health concerns down the road. and ps...'never' is a long time---how can anyone predict there will 'never' be a problem with a random needle left in the body after surgery?
i am not litigious by nature, nor am i an alarmist, but have you considered consulting with an attorney in your area who specializes in medical malpractice cases? sadly, these cases are pretty common. at the very least, you could file a complaint with your state medical board so there's a record of the incident.
best of luck to you.
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
October 24, 2008 - 3:54pmLagunaNaturalHealth.com
I know there have been stories of people coming back from war zones with bullet fragments in their bodies that remained for years, but not necessarily without complications. I would think your body would try to surround the needle as a natural protective defense; however, who's to say it still wouldn't work its way out to puncture you somewhere?
I'd be concerned, too, and would want to get that needle out. Perhaps the hospital would be willing to remove it in exchange for your not suing them. Just a thought!
Hope you resolve this issue, soon.
October 24, 2008 - 4:26pmi realize this is a message board, and people have the right to post their point of view----but did you preview what you wrote before you posted it? seriously. it sounds as if you find this to be an acceptable practice and are acquiescing to these substandard practitioners.
we're talking about needles (and other foreign matter) being left in people's bodies after surgery---and the patient having to live with the consequences of the negligence of surgical staffers. grow a pair! would you kowtow if you were in her situation?
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
October 24, 2008 - 4:53pmLagunaNaturalHealth.com
There was absolutely no "kow tow," and I'm surprised you even thought so!
Please read someone's post carefully before you react. The subject title alone would have been a clue what my position is in this matter!
October 24, 2008 - 6:33pmyou wrote: "Perhaps the hospital would be willing to remove it in exchange for your not suing them."
i read it, and i stand by my response. suggesting an 'exchange program' for shoddy workmanship is kowtowing, acquiescing and cowardly.
the bottom line is, it's an unacceptable standard of practice.
you said that if it were you, you would want the needle removed. did you suggest the exchange program because you don't want to 'rock the boat'? that might suggest you find it acceptable to subject yourself to a second, unnecessary surgical procedure and all the potential problems that go along with it, rather than insisting on a professional, responsible and respectful standard in the first place. what are you afraid of?
you may be interested to know that making a 'deal' with the hospital is not how it works. you would make your 'deal' with the surgeon. good luck with that.
please understand, my response is not contentious---it's to create awareness, and sometimes that makes people feel uncomfortable. people need to stand up for themselves.
by the way, did you see 'grey's anatomy' last nite? during a transplant surgery, meredeth dropped one of the kidneys on the floor and dr bailey's directive was yelling, "FIVE SECOND RULE!!"
makes you wonder.
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
October 24, 2008 - 7:51pmLagunaNaturalHealth.com
Because we're a litigious society, there is tremendous financial pressure on doctors and hospitals and outrageous costs of malpractice insurance.
I think it would be much better to try to work something out with the hospital. It is, after all, THEIR responsibility to make things right with the patient and to deal with their surgical staff.
I don't take my cues on how to deal with medical professionals from TV shows.
October 24, 2008 - 7:39pmand why do you suppose it's all come to that? and by 'that', i mean lawsuits. the system has a big filter on the negligible suits---they are tossed out in pretty short order. but we're talking about viable suits resulting from obvious negligence.
the staggering cost of malpractice insurance is due to many factors, one of which the cost of procedures gone wrong due to negligence....which brings us back to the original point---and debbie's problem.
morally speaking, do you feel debbie should just suck it up and live with it? should she go on for the rest of her life wondering and worrying if she's going to be ok? it's obviously still bothering her...it's been 2 1/2 years and she's still thinking about it.
or should she seek her legal options?
let's pursue this further....when a surgical team has amputated the wrong limb, should the patient just live with the consequences? how could you ever make that right? even with a large monetary settlement? what would you do, alysia?
and i don't understand your comment about tv shows. my 'grey's' reference was tongue in cheek....but it does make you wonder what goes on behind closed doors.
Kristy Mills, Traditional Naturopath, CNHP
October 24, 2008 - 8:19pmLagunaNaturalHealth.com