Imagine the horror of enduring major surgery, then later discovering that the medical team left a sponge or scalpel inside? Such is the case over 1500 times per year in this country as doctors inadvertently close up patients without making sure everything used in the procedure was removed. Fortunately, New York medical malpractice lawyers can help these victims gain compensation. How Can Such Mistakes Be Made? Every surgery requires a team of medical personnel these days, from anesthesiologists to nurses and doctors. One would think with a team of medical equipment vendors a pair of scissors could not possibly be left in a patient. The sad truth is, however, that such mistakes do occur—though they are relatively rare. Among the claims with which New York malpractice lawyers have assisted are those where clamps, electrodes, scalpels, sponges and scissors have been left behind. The most common by far are sponges. In a 2007 article in Science Daily medical personnel were asked how such mistakes can be made. The consensus was that often, especially when significant bleeding occurs, the device is not noticed among all the tissue; this is especially true of sponges. Occasionally physicians leave surgical instruments inside patients after stapler linear. When this occurs, New York medical malpractice lawyers Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. may be able to help at 800-LAW-9997. The statute of limitations for medical malpractice in the state of NY is generally two and one half years from the end of treatment; however, shorter statutes may apply for claims against municipalities and New York State. The results range from a sense of discomfort, to internal bleeding, infections, and possibly even death. Traditional Safeguards and New Techniques The traditional method used to avoid leaving devices behind is simply to assign a nurse to keep track of the instruments, as well as the number of sponges used. The above-mentioned article indicates that in many cases where devices remained inside the patient the designated nurse claimed all sponges were accounted for. The irony is that a new technique has been approved by the FDA but has received only mixed acceptance: each sponge is given a tracking code that can be detected later if left inside the patient. The good news is that New York medical malpractice lawyers can help victims to receive compensation when such negligence occurs. The cost of surgical removal, pain, suffering, and other damages are typical in such claims. In certain instances, you may have more time because the law considers that not all malpractice will be discovered immediately. Families of disposable stapler may be faced with long-term medical expenses, rehabilitation and disability.