NORFOLK, Va. — A South Carolina mother has filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Sentara Healthcare, alleging that a surgical sponge was left inside her body following childbirth at Sentara Leigh Hospital.
According to court documents filed in Norfolk, the woman claims she only discovered the retained sponge after experiencing complications in the weeks following her delivery. The lawsuit alleges the object caused an infection, ultimately requiring an additional medical procedure to remove it.
The filing states that the sponge was “not intended to be left inside the patient,” “served no beneficial medical purpose,” and “should have been removed at the conclusion of the procedure.” However, it remains unclear how the sponge was left behind or whether standard surgical protocols were followed during the procedure…