What are my rights if surgical clips were left in my right upper quadrant of my abdomen?
Question Details: I had gallbladder surgery 24 years ago. Then, 6 months ago, I had a bout with pneumonia. When they did my lung X-ray it showed the clips that were left in after my cholecystectomy. I have stomach pain often and because of the pain have scheduled to see my gastrointerologists. In the meantime, do I have a legal case against the hospital?
Unfortunately, it appears that in your state, the statute of limitations (time to sue) for medical malpractice involving foreign objects left in the body is capped at 10 years--that is, you cannot sue more than 10 years after the surgery. Since the surgery was 24 years ago, it appears that it is too late to take legal action.
