This woman had an epidural needle stuck in her spine for 14 years
She alleges the hospital knew about it the entire time
She alleges the hospital knew about it the entire time
She alleges the hospital knew about it the entire time
Shortly after Amy Bright gave birth to her son at Florida's Naval Hospital Jacksonville in 2003, she started experiencing back pain. Fourteen years later, a CT scan revealed she had a piece of the needle used to administer her epidural anesthetic stuck in her spine, .
“I was absolutely livid and upset and scared,” . “Every time I move and walk and bend and twist and sleep, that needle moves inside my spine. For 14 years, I’ve been creating scar tissue in my spine from this needle moving. I’m angry.” Bright, now 41, says that in that time, it's become increasingly difficult to use her left leg and foot, and she's had consistent pain ever since the birth. Before the piece of needle was discovered she was originally diagnosed with sciatica; doctors had prescribed various remedies for her pain, but nothing worked.
Bright and her lawyer Sean Cronin are accusing the hospital of fraud and malpractice, and they're claiming hospital staff knew the needle was stuck in Bright's spine but did nothing about it. As of right now, Bright and Cronin have only filed a complaint, but they plan to file an official lawsuit in the coming months.
“This is something that was not disclosed,” . “These needles are about 9 or 10 centimeters and they have a tip on the end that the provider is supposed to inspect to make sure they have the whole needle. They knew this was in her, according to our experts, because so much of the needle was missing. And the safety tip is still in her.”
Cronin alleges there was a window of opportunity to fix the problem, but the hospital missed it due to neglect, and now, Bright says doctors told her that removing the needle could leave her paralyzed.
“It has gotten to the point where it just burns constantly. I’m very scared of my future. [My leg] is getting weaker,” . “I’m probably going to be in a wheelchair. It’s scary because I don’t know.”
“I’m very paranoid and scared,” . “I’m trying to prepare for my future and the help and support I’m going to need.”
, and hospital officials directed them to the U.S. Department of Justice. They did not respond to comment requests.