CHARLESTON, S.C. — The state of South Carolina has agreed to pay $1 million to the estate of a man who endured days of excruciating pain and ultimately died after surgeons at a prominent medical university left a surgical blade inside his body during a cancer-related procedure.
Jeffrey Alan Fulcher, a 58-year-old husband and father of three, underwent what was supposed to be a minimally invasive surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in June 2022. The operation aimed to remove part of his esophagus following a diagnosis of localized carcinoma, a form of cancer that had been caught in its early stages.
According to documents from a lawsuit filed on behalf of Fulcher's estate, the procedure took a tragic turn when a Thompson retractor blade was inadvertently left inside his abdomen. The blade, a tool commonly used in surgeries to hold back tissue, was not noticed by the surgical team, and Fulcher's abdominal cavity was closed without its removal.
Local news outlet WCSC, which reviewed the lawsuit documents, reported that operating room nurses conducted standard counts of all medical instruments both before and after the surgery. Those counts allegedly confirmed that no blades were missing, allowing the procedure to conclude without immediate alarm.
But the error soon became apparent. Just one day after the surgery, Fulcher complained of abdominal pain to his doctors. The lawsuit claims that medical staff assessed him and determined he was “doing well,” dismissing the complaints without further investigation at that time.
As the days progressed, Fulcher's condition deteriorated rapidly. His pain intensified, and he began experiencing symptoms including a drop in oxygen saturation levels and abdominal distension, or swelling. It wasn't until several days later that X-rays were ordered, revealing the presence of the forgotten blade.
More than six hours after the discovery, Fulcher was rushed back into the operating room. By then, according to the lawsuit, he was already in septic shock. The blade had perforated his colon, causing severe internal damage. Surgeons removed the dead portion of the colon in an attempt to stabilize him.
The complications didn't end there. Doctors grew concerned about bowel ischemia, a dangerous condition where blood flow to the intestines is restricted or halted. Fulcher's instability was such that he couldn't be moved to a standard operating room; instead, a follow-up procedure was performed at his bedside. During this emergency surgery, physicians removed what remained of his colon.
Despite these efforts, Fulcher succumbed to his injuries six days after the initial procedure. The cause of death was listed as sepsis, colonic perforation, and peritonitis—an inflammation of the abdominal lining—stemming directly from the surgical mishap.
The lawsuit accuses MUSC of negligence, carelessness, and recklessness in its handling of the surgery and postoperative care. It highlights failures in instrument accountability and timely response to patient complaints, which allegedly contributed to Fulcher's preventable death.
In the wake of the incident, South Carolina's insurance reserve fund disbursed the $1 million settlement to Fulcher's estate, acknowledging the state's liability without admitting fault in a public statement. The payment was made following the filing of the lawsuit, though details of any additional terms remain private.
The Independent has reached out to MUSC for comment.
While MUSC has not yet responded to requests for comment, the case underscores ongoing concerns about surgical errors in U.S. hospitals. According to general medical reports, retained surgical items—often referred to as 'never events' because they should never occur—happen in an estimated 1 in 5,500 to 1 in 18,760 surgeries nationwide, though exact figures vary by institution.
Fulcher's story adds to a troubling pattern at medical facilities, where lapses in protocol can lead to devastating outcomes. In this instance, the reliance on manual instrument counts, despite their confirmation, proved insufficient, raising questions about the need for advanced technologies like RFID tracking or enhanced checklists to prevent such oversights.
Beyond the personal tragedy, the settlement prompts broader discussions on patient safety and accountability in healthcare. Fulcher, remembered by loved ones as a devoted family man, leaves behind a wife and three children who have grappled with the loss amid legal proceedings. The case may influence future policies at MUSC, a leading academic medical center in the region known for its cancer treatment programs.
As investigations continue, experts in medical malpractice suggest that while settlements like this provide some measure of justice, they also highlight systemic issues that require ongoing reforms to protect patients from similar fates.