Patient sues over ‘swab slip-up’
A female patient has launched a legal battle against negligent
surgeons after finding a cloth swab inside her body four months
after a major operation.
In 2009, Susan Misiewicz was told by her gynaecologist that she
needed a hysterectomy and was promptly booked into Nottingham's
Queen's Medical Centre. After the operation, Ms Misiewicz needed a
second spell under the knife to halt internal bleeding brought
about by complications.
After spending 10 days in pain and distress at Nottingham City
Hospital, she was discharged, despite the fact she was suffering
from crippling stomach cramps, and was referred for treatment for a
suspected gastrointestinal issue.
However, during a scan to discover the root of the problem in
October, doctors found a swab had been left inside her after one of
the operations.
The swab had wrapped itself around her bowel and they had to
remove a small part of the bowel to be able to remove the swab.
When Ms Misiewicz was shown a replica of the swab she was shocked
to see it was a massive 18 inches by 18 inches in its unfurled
state.
"The second operation was to correct the bleeding. They used
packs to try and soak up the blood. They are meant to count them in
and count them out but that couldn't have happened," Ms Misiewicz
told her local paper.
"I had a massive abscess attached to my bowel. I was in
continual pain. I couldn't sleep at night because I was in that
much pain."
With help of expert negligence solicitors, the former community
care worker has launched a claim for damages against the medical
establishment.