According to an article published by The Center for Public Integrity, improperly cleaned utensils have resulted in severe infection for patients following surgery.
One investigation outlined in the article involved The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. An investigation was started after at least seven patients reported problems of severe infection following joint surgery. Reports of dangerous infections following surgery poured in over a two week period.
Investigators from the hospital and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted the investigation. The results were frightening. When investigators examined surgical tools with a small video camera to make sure they were clean, they found pieces of human bone and tissue left behind.
Investigators concluded that the source of the infections was most likely the dirty surgical instruments. Researchers pointed out that in most cases, the source of hospital borne infections are difficult to pin point.
One of the patients, John Harrison, 63, filed a lawsuit against The Methodist Hospital and Stryker, the company who made the instrument, after suffering what he called excruciating pain from a severe infection.
Harrison reportedly suffered a severe infection following surgery to repair the rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He underwent a second surgery and may require additional surgeries. Today, Harrison has poor range of motion in his arm and can’t even scratch his head. He settled with the two defendant companies for an undisclosed amount.
Harrison’s lawsuit and the investigation at The Methodist Hospital bring to attention a much larger issue. If you or someone you love has suffered serious infection following surgery, you may have been exposed to dirty medical instruments.
To learn more, contact a Connecticut medical malpractice attorney at Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today. We handle all types of medical malpractice claims and can help you get compensation for your pain and suffering.