Holger v. Irish

*404GRABER, J.

This is an action for medical malpractice. Defendant is a surgeon who operated on plaintiffs decedent for colon cancer. During the operation, defendant placed pieces of absorbent gauze, known as laparotomy sponges, in decedent’s abdomen; at the end of the surgery, he removed sponges. Two nurses assisting defendant counted the removed sponges and informed him that all the sponges were accounted for. Two years later, a sponge was discovered in decedent’s abdomen. It was surgically removed. Nine months later, decedent, who was then 92 years old, died.

Plaintiff, as personal…