Malpractice lawsuit results in $525K verdict

www.aboutlawsuits.com; A Pennsylvania woman has been awarded more that $500,00 in a medical malpractice lawsuit filed after a surgical sponge was left in her abdomen during a cesarean section.

Erin Webster brought the complaint against Lower Bucks Hospital, Dr. Richard Turner and two nurses. As a result of the surgical malpractice. Webster alleges that she suffered abdominal pains, a severe infection, bowel obstruction and digestive problems. The sponge was not discovered until two months later, when Webster complained of abdominal pains. She had to undergo additional surgery to remove 16 inches of her small bowel, which still did not alleviate her medical problems.

Last week, a Bucks County jury awarded Webster $525,000 and found the hospital, and the nurses Blatcher and Tedesco liable. The two nurses repeatly failed to do a proper count of medical equipment during and after the surgery, according to the complaint. The jury determined that Turner was not liable.

Leaving a surgical sponge behind after a medical procedure is rare, but can pose serious and potentially fatal consequences. Precautionary measures like sponge counts, tracking bar codes and radiographic screening after operations can greatly reduce the risk.