After having a surgery, most New York residents expect that there will be some recovery time that involves some pain. However, the amount of times that people experience pain because a surgical item, like a sponge, is left in the patient’s body. This apparently happens about 12 times a day. For many patients, it may be months or even years before the surgical negligence is found. A failure to diagnose that the sponge was left in the body could cause patients permanent damage, possibly forcing them to lose parts of their intestines or even their lives. The worst part is that most of those surgical mistakes are completely preventable. Technologies exist to make sure the accidents almost never happen, but they are simply not used. For any patients who suspect that the pain they are suffering is coming from such surgical errors, it is often worth looking into it immediately. Often times Medicare will deny claims involving sponges or items left in the body, so the only avenue left to victims is to bring a medical malpractice lawsuit. On average, these suits can bring in awards of $100,000 to $200,000, depending on the severity of the case. The unfortunate reality, however, is that the patient has likely suffered severe damage at that point, so much so that it is unlikely any amount of money will bring about a full recovery. Suffering from the medical malpractice of having a sponge left behind can be excruciating and long-term. Seeking out legal help if such an item is discovery is often the best step to take. Source: USA Today, “What surgeons leave behind costs some patients dearly," Peter Eisler, Mar. 8, 2013