Woman’s mysterious pain solved after foreign object discovered in her body 

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

What are the most common medical malpractice claims?

No one starts their day hoping that they will be injured in some sort of accident. Unfortunately, too often, we are faced with sometimes life-changing injuries.  Even more shocking is when these accidents happen during surgery.  Surgical errors are one of the top medical malpractice claims in the US.

Woman Finds Surgical Probe Left in Her Body

Michelle Doig-Collins underwent surgery for a uterine ablation procedure a few months ago. Instead of feeling better, weeks later Michelle suffered from unusual pain and bleeding.  Despite numerous visits to the doctor’s office, where she was diagnosed with a severe vaginal infection, doctors failed to find a cause.

Almost three months later, Michelle discovered a foreign object sticking out of her body. A trip to the emergency room revealed the presence of a large metal probe in Michelle’s body.  Thankfully, doctors were able to surgically remove the instrument.  Had the probe not been discovered, Michelle could have died.  She is now preparing to take her doctor to court.

Medical Standard of Care

All doctors are required to treat patients with the same degree of skill and care of a “reasonably competent practitioner” in the same field or in similar situations. In the case of Michelle, her attorneys will argue that a reasonably competent surgeon would not leave a surgical object in a patient’s body.

Most Common Medical Malpractice Claims

Medical malpractice injuries can be caused by a variety of factors.  Some of the most common injuries are caused by:

  1. Delayed or Mistaken Diagnosis – failing to diagnose a patient in a timely fashion can lead to injury or death from infection, cancer or other cause.
  2. Medication Errors – prescribing the wrong dosage or wrong medication, including one that the patient is allergic to or has a contra-indication can cause irreparable injury or death.
  3. Surgical Errors – in addition to leaving instruments inside patients, surgical errors can include operating on the wrong patient or the wrong site, failure to monitor vital signs and anesthesia errors.

Medical Personal Injury Claims

If you or someone you love has been injured due to medical malpractice, it is critical to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At J&Y, our sole focus is personal injury representation. That means that our attorneys are dedicated to ensuring our clients get the care and compensation that they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation at 888.806.6722.

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.