Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers say X-ray images of the knees of a 65-year-old South Korean revealed hundreds of tiny gold acupuncture needles that had been left in her tissue. The X-rays were taken because the woman complained of having severe joint pain. According to an article that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the woman was previously diagnosed with osteoarthritis. However, pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs failed to alleviate the pain in her knees so she decided to try to acupuncture.
Acupuncture is an alternative medical practice where needles are used to stimulate certain points on the body in order to alleviate pain or to treat various diseases. In this case, the needles were intentionally left in her tissue for continued stimulation, according to the report. However, experts say that leaving needles or any foreign objects in the body is not such a good idea and can lead to inflammation, abscesses and infection. Specifically with acupuncture needles, the report says needles left in the body could move, and damage an artery.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers Warn Patients that Medical Errors May Lead to Foreign Objects Being Left Inside of Their Bodies
Any surgical equipment, material or other foreign object left inside a person’s body can result in serious injury. Foreign objects such as sponges, surgical tools and scissors used during surgery are examples of things that surgeons can mistakenly leave inside someone’s body leading to pain, infections, obstruction in the intestines, or another injury. Typically, patients will require X-rays to identify the object and later surgery to remove a foreign object from their body.
In many cases, patients can go for several months or even years before it is determined that they have a foreign object in their body. Patients who experience persistent pain, especially those who have had surgery, should talk to their physician and ask for X-rays if they feel that they may have a foreign object inside of them. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and infections.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Philadelphia and New Jersey
The Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyers at Messa & Associates are experienced at handling medical malpractice cases involving injuries related to foreign objects that are left in someone’s body as a result of a medical error. Our extremely skilled team of medical malpractice lawyers and medical experts is dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you have had a foreign object left in your body, been a victim of a medical error or any other medical malpractice, contact the medical malpractice attorneys of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.