Reference no: EM133022513

Case Study:Sophia Savage Case

Surgical mistakes can result in serious medical complications for patients. Errors by surgeons can run the gamut from performing unnecessary surgery on a patient, to negligent technique in carrying out the procedure -- even leaving medical instruments inside a patient. Many (though not all) common surgical mistakes rise to the level of medical negligence and can form the basis of a medical malpractice lawsuit against the surgeon and any other responsible party. To give you an idea of what these cases might look like, this article provides a snapshot of three real-life surgical mistake medical malpractice cases.

In 2018, Sophia Savage underwent a hysterectomy at the Three Rivers Medical Center in Louisa, Kentucky. During the surgery, a surgical sponge was left inside her abdomen, but the presence of the sponge wasn't revealed until 2020, when Savage had an x-ray after she reported pain in her stomach. She had to undergo additional surgery to remove the sponge. During this procedure it was discovered that the sponge was lodged in her lower intestine. The doctors had to remove a 49 centimeter section of her small intestine in order to remove the sponge. Due to this she suffered from lingering abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation as well as bouts of anxiety and depression. She and her husband Darrell file a surgical mistake lawsuit against the Three Rivers Medical Center. The court awarded them $2.5 million in damages. Her husband Darrell was awarded additional $500,000 for loss of consortium.

Discussion, designate and remark the Risk Management strategies and recommendations to prevent this Medical Malpractice Situation happen again.