Q: Can I sue if an acupuncturist, left a needle lodged my shoulder and forgot to take it out? I am experiencing pain.
I took the needle out myself 6 hours after the appointment was over. This was the first time I have seen this doctor. She left 1 needle behind my elbow, which I saw and told her about. The one underneath my shirt was not visible before I left the office so I did not think that there was anything there. I took it out myself and still have the needle in a plastic bag as evidence. The pain I feel is still present and this happened on Tuesday 1/15. I am a drummer and a drum teacher. I have a drum scholarship as a drummer who specializes in performance at Sonoma State. I cannot perform right now due to the injury that was inflicted on me by a negligent acupuncturist. After telling her about the mistake, she made the same mistake and left a needle in my left arm, near my elbow. She told me that she counted needles, but if so, why were 3 total needles left out?The level of negligence should not be present in a medical establishment. I may lose my job from her mistake and I want compensation.
A: First write down what happened when before you forget. Then focus on getting better. Go see an upper extremity specialist. Hopefully you will be well shortly. Then contact a member of CAOC in the county where it happened who handles medical cases, to see if you have a case. They give free consults.
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