Both the Denver Post and 9News.com are reporting that Richard Keller, a former patient of the Denver VA Medical Center, has sued the federal government after a clamp was left inside his body after heart surgery. The suit is for a reported $15 million. The trial is scheduled to being March 10, 2010.
According to medical error research conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine, it is estimated that a surgical sponge or instrument is left inside of 1 out of every 1000 to 1500 intraabdominal operation patients. Though it was a metal clamp that was left inside Mr. Richard Keller, 69% of these incidents relate to surgical sponges. Only 31% are surgical instruments. The study also found that a majority of these errors occur when there is an emergency surgical procedure, when there are unplanned changes in the procedure, or when the patient has a higher body-mass index.
Depending on what was left inside a patient and the damage the item may have caused, these incidents can result in medical malpractice cases. A woman in Virginia received $2.5 Million after a surgical sponge was left insider her during a hysterectomy surgery. A Jackson County woman was awarded $1 million after a surgical sponge was left in her armpit during a breast reconstruction surgery.
If you were a surgery patient and a surgical sponge or surgery instrument was left inside your body, you may be able to collect compensation for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. Denver personal injury attorney Saul Sarney offers a free initial consultation for medical malpractice cases in Colorado. Call today at 303-759-3300.
Tags: attorney, instrument, law firm, lawsuit, lawyer, Medical Malpractice, sponge, Surgery
