A 30-year-old patient felt discomfort in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen for 6 months after having surgery. On a subsequent X-ray examination, it was discovered that the surgeon had left a sponge in the patient during a previous surgery. When does the statute of limitations begin?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statute of limitations begins on the day that the patient was given the X-ray results, as this is when the patient discovered the injury caused by the surgeon's negligence. This concept is known as the "discovery rule," which allows the statute of limitations to start from the time the injury was discovered or should have been discovered with reasonable diligence.

A 30-Year-Old Patient Felt Discomfort in the Right Lower Quadrant