May 23, 1999: Sponge Count Off, Patient Develops Sepsis, Surgeon Blames Nurse. Sponge Counts are a basic and critical safety measure
during a surgical operation. In this case, the standard three counts
were not performed. A sponge was left in the patient that would later
lead to infection. When the issue went to court, the surgeon claimed
"it was not his responsibility" to keep track of the sponges.
Johnston v. Southwest Louisiana Assn. 693 So. 2d 1195 –LA (1997)
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