Scalpel left in shoulder: Ichilov patient speaks out after being accused of faking pain
A 40-year-old Tel Aviv resident, who underwent surgery following a scooter accident, endured months of agony while doctors dismissed his complaints as imaginary. A recent scan finally revealed a scalpel left inside his shoulder. The patient is now considering legal action.
After a scalpel was left in his body during surgery at Ichilov Hospital, 40-year-old Y. from Tel Aviv spoke to Walla today about the hospital's negligence and the shock of discovering the true cause of his severe pain. Y. had been involved in a scooter accident, resulting in fractures to his shoulder and knee.
"They operated on my shoulder, inserting screws and plates. I kept going for check-ups and physical therapy, constantly complaining about stabbing pains," he recounted. "I would sit there screaming in pain, and people looked at me as if I had lost my mind. Everyone thought I was faking it. It was only the last doctor who finally took me seriously, spotted it on an X-ray, and immediately called the surgeon to schedule an emergency removal."
"I went through extraordinary suffering"
Y. described the ordeal as mentally and physically draining. "Carrying that sharp, stabbing pain for four months while no one believes you is unbearable," he said. Now, following the successful removal of the scalpel, he is beginning the long process of rehabilitation and is considering filing a lawsuit for the suffering he endured.
His wife shared that the hospital's dismissal of his pain was particularly traumatic. "Every doctor said everything was fine and suggested he was imagining it. They even hinted at psychiatric treatment; they almost sent him to Abarbanel," she said. When the CT scan finally revealed the blade, the hospital staff was forced to admit the error. "The surgeon told me, 'I didn't use this scalpel, but this is our negligence.' He was very upset," she added. She noted that the surgeon remarked it was fortunate her husband was a strong man who didn't try to force movement, as the blade could have caused severe internal cutting.
Ichilov Medical Center issued a statement: "The object was discovered during a follow-up scan yesterday. The patient was operated on this morning to remove it, and no long-term damage is expected. The incident will be investigated comprehensively to prevent recurrence, and it has been reported to the Ministry of Health as required."
