Retained objects in the body during surgery

Retained objects during surgery happen due to surgical negligence by the operating team. Leaving something like a precision tool inside you should never happen, but these events occur more than you might imagine.

A retained object during surgery is known as a never event. The NHS terms a never event as a type of medical negligence that should not happen, but never events do happen, a lot. 

The NHS sees a never event as a serious yet preventable incident. If everyone follows the strict protocol, a never event cannot happen.

Medical negligence is when a never event happens due to staff not following the explicit guidelines surrounding every area of medical procedures.

A major never event in surgical circles is retained objects during surgery. If procedures are followed, foreign objects should be outside your body, but history shows items are retained during surgery. 

Items retained during surgery can be the likes of gloves, swabs and surgical instruments. Every item retained during surgery can harm the body, and the bigger the item, the bigger the harm.

Some common items retained in the body during surgery are:

Each item retained in the body during surgery has a use. The item is no longer of any use when surgery is over and should be accounted for by the operating theatre staff.

To leave an item in the body during surgery should not happen. It is an avoidable never event if staff follow the strict protocols.

When an item is retained in the body during surgery, you can file a compensation claim for the effects of the surgical negligence.

The effects of having retained objects in your body from surgery are severe illness, and most are life-threatening. Often the effects of the surgical negligence do not come to light until later when the damage is done.

Some of the effects of having retained objects in your body are:

The effects are serious and will have a detrimental impact on your health. The longer the retained object stays in your body, the more damage it will do.

Infection from a retained object happens when bacteria from a swab or needle gets into your system. An infection can spread quickly and do a lot of damage to the parts of your body affected by the retained object.

Raised temperature and nausea are signs of infection which can quickly become Sepsis.

Sepsis from a retained object is when an infection remains untreated. In medical terms, Sepsis is your body’s extreme reaction to an infection. Your body goes into shutdown, and if left untreated, Sepsis will lead to death.

Retained surgical objects lead to untreated infections that cause Sepsis.

Perforated organs from a retained object result from sharp items being left in the body after surgery. Organs such as the bowel or stomach are easily perforated by needles or scalpels left behind by a surgeon.

A sharp object left in the body will do untold damage and quickly put the patient’s life in danger.

Chronic pain from a retained object in the body after surgery can go on for months and even years. A small suction cup or screw left inside your body can niggle away at surrounding organs or muscles.

The pain will become chronic, and the retained object will cause discomfort for years if left in your body.

Swelling around the area of the retained object is often the first sign of trouble after surgery. The swelling may result from infection, or it could be due to the size of the retained object, such as a swab or clamp.

An X-Ray or MRI scan should show the retained object, and further surgery is the only solution.

Retained objects in the body during surgery cause problems such as infection and pain. The effects can be life-threatening. 

It happens a lot, and you can file a compensation claim for medical negligence against the surgeon or hospital responsible.

Surgical items are left in the body after surgery almost 100 times a year. One time is too much, but 100 times is almost unbelievable for a never event to happen. 

Nearly 100 times that infection, swelling, chronic pain or Sepsis is allowed to happen due to a retained item during surgery. If the surgical team are doing a professional job, then medical negligence would happen.

Unfortunately, the medical negligence of leaving a surgical item inside the body happens nearly once every three days—a lot of suffering for patients and families.

The leading figures on surgical items left in the body are:

All surgical items left in the body do damage. When you suffer from surgical negligence, you can file a compensation claim for damages against those responsible.

A medical professional is responsible for retained items during surgery. The operating room’s surgeon and medical staff must ensure nothing is left inside you.

After surgery, a checklist must be followed for all items used during surgery. Surgical instruments should be checked both before and after surgery to make sure they are intact. Swabs should be counted, and none should be left inside your body.

Medical negligence happens when the surgeon or staff do not do their job properly. Any retained items during surgery result from medical negligence, and someone is responsible for it happening to you.

Retained items during surgery cause infection, pain and even death in some cases. A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor can make your claim for compensation for a retained item during surgery.

You can claim amounts more than £5,000 for a retained item during surgery compensation case. The amount you claim depends on the damage caused to you, and there is not one fixed award in medical negligence claims.

The amount of compensation differs from patient to patient, depending on the circumstances and effects of the retained items during surgery.

When making a claim for retained objects during surgery, you are looking for compensation for what happened at the hands of a medical professional. The negligent treatment caused you temporary or permanent injury, and you deserve compensation for the suffering.

As in all medical negligence claims, each case is dealt with on its merits and how much you have suffered from the retained objects during surgery.

A No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will be the only one who can advise you on a retained objects during surgery claim. They will know from experience what your case may be worth and how to go about a successful claim.

Your No Win No Fee medical negligence solicitor will handle your retained objects during surgery claim and get you compensation for all damages incurred.

The steps involved in making a retained objects during surgery claim go from seeking medical advice to issuing court proceedings. 

The steps are a part of any successful compensation case, and settlement can happen at any stage in the process.

Your medical negligence solicitor will do the rest when you follow the steps correctly and get all the facts and figures together.

Seek medical advice on the injuries you have suffered or are suffering with immediately you realise you experienced from a retained object during surgery.

Contact a specialist medical negligence solicitor who operates on a No Win No Fee basis and tell them what went wrong. The right solicitor will look at your case, see where the problem lies, and advise if you have a retained objects during surgery claim.

The Medical Negligence Team also have a 100% Compensation Guarantee scheme, where you get all the money awarded in a negligence claim. 

You are the one who suffered medical negligence, and you should get all the money due for the suffering.

Your medical negligence solicitor obtains your medical records with your permission. By reading your records, they will confirm if they think you have a valid retained objects during surgery claim.

The medical negligence team will know from your medical records if the case will result in compensation being paid.

The medical negligence solicitor sending a letter of claim to the negligent party is the next step. The letter will ask them to admit the retained objects during surgery negligence in what is known as ‘sending a letter of claim.’

When the negligent party receives the letter of claim, it has up to four months to provide a written response.

Getting a response from the negligent party’s insurer will move your compensation claim closer to a conclusion.

The insurer will either admit the medical negligence or say they intend to defend the case. Deciding to defend the case is known as ‘deny liability’ in legal terms.

If they admit liability, your retained objects during surgery claim can be valued, and the two parties will meet to decide on your compensation payment. 

Your solicitor will negotiate with the negligent party and use their experience to get the compensation you deserve.

Issuing court proceedings is the next step if they deny liability in your retained objects during surgery claim. 

Going to court happens, too, when they are not prepared to pay a fair amount for the injuries you have suffered. Your medical negligence solicitor issues the court proceedings.

Remember that less than 1% of medical negligence cases end up in court, and very few of those cases ever make it to the courtroom.

You have three years to make a claim for retained objects during surgery. All medical negligence claims are subject to limitation periods.

For example, in England and Wales, medical negligence claims must generally be brought and court proceedings issued, within three years of the injury, or three years of knowledge of the facts giving rise to the claim. 

If someone has passed away, it is the date of death if the limitation period has not expired at the date of death. 

Children not under a disability typically have until they reach 21 to start a retained objects during surgery claim or court proceedings.

Persons under a disability, who lack capacity, are not subject to any limitation period.

Contact the Medical Negligence Team today to discuss your retained objects during surgery claim for compensation. We have both the legal and medical experts to guide you along the steps to a successful medical negligence claim for compensation.

At the Medical Negligence Team, we fight every compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis. You will not be out of pocket for an unsuccessful claim.

We have a very high success rate and a reputation for a speedy and successful resolution to all medical negligence cases.

Our 100% Compensation Guarantee puts all the money you win into your pocket. You or your loved one suffered from retained objects during surgery, and you deserve every penny of the compensation claim.

Contact us at the Medical Negligence Team for all your medical negligence needs.