When a surgical procedure ends and recovery begins, the last thing any patient expects is to learn that something was unintentionally left inside their body. Retained foreign objects, such as surgical sponges, instruments, and needles, cause real and often serious harm, and they are the result of a failure in the protocols that exist to prevent them.
If you or a loved one is facing that reality, reach out to our team at Burnett Injury Group. We help patients and families understand how to file a retained foreign objects lawsuit in Annapolis. Following a free initial consultation, our medical malpractice attorneys will skillfully guide you through the legal process while providing the personalized attention you deserve.
Surgical teams have established protocols specifically designed to prevent objects from being left inside a patient’s body. These protocols include careful counting of sponges, instruments, and other materials before and after every procedure. When those safeguards fail and objects are left behind, the medical consequences can include serious complications, permanent injury or even death.
What makes these cases particularly difficult is that many patients do not discover the problem immediately. Symptoms such as persistent pain, infection, swelling, or complications that do not resolve as expected may be the first indication that something went wrong. In some cases in Annapolis, a retained surgical object is not identified until weeks, months, or even years after the original procedure, perhaps through follow-up imaging ordered for an unrelated reason.
Under the accepted standard of care, surgical teams bear a clear responsibility to account for every item used during a procedure before a patient’s surgical site is closed. When this type of error occurs, it often reflects a breakdown in communication, supervision, or adherence to established safety protocols among multiple members of the care team. It may involve liability on the part of individual providers, the hospital, or both.
The physical consequences of a retained surgical object can be serious and far-reaching. Patients frequently require one or more additional surgeries to locate and remove the object, and recovery from those procedures adds to the burden they are already carrying. Infections, organ damage, chronic pain, and scarring are among the complications that can develop after the original procedure.
Beyond the physical harm, the emotional toll of learning that a medical team made this kind of mistake is significant. Many patients describe a profound loss of trust in the healthcare system, along with anxiety, depression, and distress that can linger long after physical recovery. The patient’s family is impacted as well, taking on caregiving responsibilities and unanticipated financial strain.
A retained foreign object malpractice claim in Annapolis can help address these losses. Our attorneys work to pursue compensation for all losses and expenses associated with the error, including:
There is also a benefit in holding a surgical team or institution accountable for what happened to you. Beyond your own financial recovery, a successful claim can prompt changes in how a facility operates, potentially protecting future patients from the same preventable error.
A surgical team’s failure to account for every item used during a procedure can set off a chain of consequences that touches every part of a patient’s life — additional surgeries, prolonged recovery, financial strain, and a loss of trust. Patients in this situation have legal rights, and pursuing a retained foreign objects lawsuit in Annapolis is one of the most impactful remedies available to those who have been harmed.
At Burnett Injury Group, we offer free initial consultations, where a medical malpractice attorney will hear your story, review what happened, and explain your legal options. From the moment we take your case, our team will stand with you through every stage of the claims process.