A medical malpractice lawsuit filed today in Jasper County Circuit Court claims a surgical sponge was left in a Carthage woman's abdomen following an exploratory laparotomy in 2020 that was discovered three years later and has since forced the woman to undergo three surgical procedures.
Named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed by Linda Sargent, Carthage, are Freeman Health System and Dr. Kurtis Cox, who performed the initial procedure.
From the petition:
On or about September 10, 2020, Plaintiff underwent exploratory laparotomy with Dr. Cox at Freeman Hospital.During the surgery, Dr. Cox utilized surgical sponges in Plaintiff’s abdomen. Dr. Cox closed Plaintiff’s abdomen while a surgical sponge was still present in the abdomen.
On or about May 30, 2023, Plaintiff went to Mercy Carthage emergency department with left-sided abdominal pain. An abdominal CT scan was obtained and revealed a “5 cm radiopaque foreign body within this loop of bowel …. [r]etained sponge cannot be excluded.”
Plaintiff was once again seen in the emergency department on or about January 22, 2024, with abdominal pain. An abdominal CT obtained at that time revealed a “radio dense structure within the collection that could represent a retained foreign body.”
On January 30, 2024, Plaintiff came under the care of Dr. David Hargroder. At that time, Dr. Hargroder recommended surgery and “discussed surgical procedure being laparoscopic, draining the area and removing the sponge that was left from a previous surgical procedure.’’
Dr. Hargroder took Plaintiff to surgery on February 7, 2024, with a planned diagnostic laparoscopy with excision of foreign body. During the surgery, it was decided that the laparoscope made it impossible to tell if the fluid-filled structure found was part of the bowel or an abscess. It was decided to convert to an open procedure.
A run of the bowel was done to confirm end-to-end functionality, and a rather bulbous segment was discovered. A foreign body was confirmed present in the small bowel which had caused so much dilation that the area needed to be resected. The foreign body was removed without complication.
Pathology confirmed that “tan-brown sheetlike foreign body fragments” were removed by Dr. Hargroder. The foreign body that was surgically removed by Dr. Hargroder on February 7, 2024, was the surgical sponge that Dr. Cox and his surgical team placed in Plaintiff’s abdomen on September 10, 2020.
As a direct and proximate result of the retained sponge, Plaintiff required significant additional medical treatment including additional surgeries.
As a direct and proximate result of the retained sponge, Plaintiff developed an incisional hernia which required surgical repair on July 10, 2024. 20.
As a direct and proximate result of the retained sponge, Plaintiff developed a second incisional hernia which required additional surgical repair in April 2025.
The lawsuit includes counts of medical malpractice against Freeman Health and Cox.
Sargent is seeking actual and compensatory damages and asks for a jury trial.
She is represented by Joshua G. Decker, Springfield.
It’s disgusting that this area has more crappy doctors than not. It’s like this part of SwMo gets all the medical school hacks that can’t cut it in bigger cities. Until we hold these “doctors” accountable and hit them where it hurts (their wallets) they will always be mediocre.
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with the medical school.
DeleteSo many perfect people who NEVER make a mistake... We are all human and all of us make mistakes. I'm sure this doctor did not intentionally leave the sponge in the patient. PEOPLE SUCK! PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK INTO A MIRROR!
ReplyDeleteI don’t want to live in a world where people aren’t held accountable for their “mistakes”. Sure, we are all human but that doesn’t remove anyone from being held accountable for what they did or didn’t do. This patient should absolutely be infuriated with the pain and suffering she has had to endure since 2020- human error or not. She is well within her rights to hold the physician and hospital accountable for what they did to her. Accountability sometimes is the only response to improve patient outcomes and improve the quality of care at a below average health system.
DeleteThe Dr. is responsible for what happens to the patient but a nurse or tech did not properly count and verify the sponges used and recovered prior to closing the patient. Everyone that was in that room is pretty much at fault.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is not - "Clean Up on Aisle 1", these Doctors need to be held accountable and get over their "God Like Outlook on Themselves". Big Fish in a Very Small Pond - and would have trouble making it in any World Class Medical Care Facilities - But of Course they all have to Practice their Craft on Someone - You, Your Family, or Friends - while several will be Guinea pigs until they can become better at their Craft.
ReplyDeleteHaving had several family members and friends go to Mercy and Freeman - I can understand the frustration about the medical care they received. With these two Local Hospitals, I am amazed that there are not Lawyers standing in line at the Exit Doors handing out business cards for their next lawsuits.
You do not go to Freeman or Mercy for World Class Medical Care - Which is Sad since a lot of people have to depend on the Level of Medical Care that is provided in the smaller rural communities - based on their Income and Locations.
Having access to better healthcare generally leads to a longer lifespan. Studies consistently show a strong correlation between access to quality primary care and longevity. This includes access to preventative care, early diagnosis, and effective treatments for various health conditions.
Generally, access to quality medical care is often better in larger communities compared to smaller, rural communities. While smaller communities may offer a more personalized and trusting relationship between patients and providers, they often lack the resources and specialization available in urban areas.
If you can afford it get seek second medical opinions from larger better qualified specialized medical professionals - I can tell you that some of the medical offerings that are available-today outside of the Rural Areas - will not even become standard practices for few years in the Rural Areas - If you can afford to wait that long - - Sad, but True.