Limassol district court has ordered a gynaecologist to pay compensation to a patient of more than €230,000 after the doctor failed to remove a surgical sponge from inside her vagina following a hysterectomy.

According to the judge, the doctor failed to make sure, as it is necessary before finishing surgery, that no instrument or surgical tool was left inside the patient during the operation, which took place at a Limassol-based clinic ten years ago.

He also kicked the bucket into which he threw the used surgical sponges saying “I do not count the surgical sponges in my operations,” Philenews reported the court heard from a witness.

After the surgery, the plaintiff, who suffered from acute abdominal peritonitis and sepsis, contacted the doctor who, without examining her, wrongly concluded that it was a mild postoperative infection and recommended the woman to take Voltaren anti-inflammatory pills.

But she sought advice from another doctor since her symptoms persisted, who said she had become septic and was urgently admitted to a different clinic where she underwent an operation and had the surgical sponge removed.

In total, the patient had to undergo five operations and was hospitalised in intensive care for 21 days.

The doctor was found guilty of medical negligence, and the court sentenced him to a total compensation of €232,225.00, plus legal interest from October 31, 2012 and to pay the legal costs for the plaintiff for damages and losses.

The doctor’s defence filed an appeal with the supreme court.