New Zealand: Plate-sized surgical tool left in woman's abdomen for 18 months
BBC By Kelly Ng
BBC News
A device "the size of a dinner plate" was left in the abdomen of a woman in New Zealand after she gave birth via a Caesarean in an Auckland hospital.
The Alexis wound retractor - a soft tubal instrument used to hold open surgical wounds - was only removed 18 months after her delivery.
During this time, the woman endured severe pain, visiting several doctors until it was found on a CT scan.
Health regulators said the public hospital system had failed the patient.
Initially, Auckland's health district board Te Whatu Ora Auckland had argued they had not failed to exercise reasonable care and skill.
But New Zealand's Health and Disability Commissioner disagreed, in findings released on Monday.
"It is self-evident that the care provided fell below the appropriate standard, because the [retractor] was not identified during any routine surgical checks, resulting in it being left inside the woman's abdomen," Morag McDowell said.
