Medical Malpractice Case Filed Against Doctor Who Left Towel Inside Patient

By Daniel Hawn

Published on August 02, 2005

Joseph Webb suffered from pancreatic cancer. In order to improve his condition, he went to Wilson Medical Center on May 4, 2004 to have a lesion removed from his pancreas. However, according to the lawsuit filed in Wilson County Superior Court, Webb developed an infection and experienced a significant decline in his health after the surgery.

To look for the possible causes of Webb's deteriorating condition, surgeons at Pitt County Memorial Hospital performed exploratory surgery. During this time, they discovered a towel of the kind used in surgery inside Webb.

The doctors removed the towel, however Webb's health never improved. He died on June 1, 2004 at the age of 59.

Cathy Webb, Joseph's widow, filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging medical malpractice against Thurman and Wilson Medical Center. The suit was filed after attorneys for the parties involved could not agree on a settlement.

The lawsuit claims that the doctors and nurses who operated on Webb did not conduct an accurate sponge count after the surgery, allowing the missing towel to go unnoticed.

Thurman has denied any responsibility for Webb's death.

Last year, in a separate medical malpractice case, a Superior Court judge ordered Thurman to pay $1.7 million to a former patient.

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