CASTRO, Chile – A criminal complaint for medical negligence has been filed at Castro Hospital in the Los Lagos Region after a patient carried a surgical compress inside her abdomen for over a year. The legal action was presented in the Castro Court of Guarantee following a serious incident at Dr. Augusto Riffart Hospital.
Woman Suffered for Over a Year With Forgotten Surgical Compress
A young woman endured over a year with a roughly meter-long surgical compress left inside her abdomen following a December 2022 surgery.
- A criminal complaint for medical negligence was filed after a surgical compress was left inside a patient for over a year.
- The patient experienced pain and received incorrect diagnoses for over a year before the forgotten compress was discovered.
- The initial surgery in December 2022, intended to remove a myoma, led to the removal of the patient’s appendix, right ovary, part of a tube, and a cyst during corrective procedures.
- The patient’s lawyer is also seeking an administrative inquiry to ensure accountability and prevent a “corporate defense.”
The victim, a young woman from Castro, remained over a year with a surgical compress, approximately one meter by 50 centimeters, forgotten in her abdomen. This occurred after a surgery performed in December 2022.
Her lawyer, Julio Álvarez, explained that the woman underwent a routine myomectomy. However, by January 2023, she began to feel a lump in her abdomen, which was repeatedly misdiagnosed.
After multiple examinations and two subsequent surgeries, it was discovered in May 2024 that a foreign body had been left behind during the initial intervention. The corrective procedures also resulted in the removal of her appendix, right ovary, a portion of a fallopian tube, and a cyst.
Serious Consequences and a Call for Transparency
The woman suffered severe injuries and permanent physical consequences. She has requested that her case be made public to prevent similar incidents from occurring and to encourage others who have experienced similar mistreatment to come forward.
In addition to the criminal complaint, the lawyer stated his intention to request the initiation of an administrative summary. This aims to clarify responsibilities and avoid what he described as a “corporate defense” of the incident.
Efforts to contact Castro Hospital and the Chiloé Health Service for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
