US mother finds surgical needle left in abdomen seven years after operation

A US mother is suing a prominent New York hospital after discovering a four-centimetre surgical needle left in her abdomen for seven years, causing chronic pain. The medical negligence lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court. Jana Petriganova DeGregoris, a nurse practitioner at the same hospital network, underwent procedures including a 2018 caesarean section and a 2021 tummy tuck with hernia repair. A CT scan on October 14, 2025, revealed the needle, requiring a third surgery to remove it. The lawsuit claims the needle was "negligently, carelessly and improperly" left behind, causing severe injuries. DeGregoris and her husband seek unspecified damages from the hospital and named doctors.