Mum may sue hospital after epidural needle was left in her spine for 14 years

A mum may have to sue a hospital after piece of an epidural needle was left in her spine for 14 years.

Amy Bright gave to birth to her son, Jacob, via C-section in 2003 in Naval Hospital Jacksonville. The birth seemingly went according to plan, however, soon after, Bright began experiencing intense pain in her back and left leg. The mum told First Coast News that a recent medical examination showed that a small piece of the epidural needle had broken off and has been lodged in her spine for 14 years. Bright said that the pain had become a constant part of her life.

“It feels like fire, like a poker next to my tailbone. "And then on occasion, it shoots down the left side of my leg on my calf, like my calf side, and then down and into my foot.”

At the time, Bright was not informed by the hospital that the piece of the needle had become lodged in her spine. She recently filed a claim for alleged malpractice, fraud, and negligent concealment by staff at the hospital. During an epidural, the needle is inserted into the epidural space of the spinal cord in order to administer anaesthesia. Bright's lawyer has said that hospital staff should have noticed that some of the needle was missing when they removed it.