Nurse Sued Mount Sinai Over Surgical Needle
A cardiothoracic nurse practitioner claims a 1.5-inch needle was left inside her abdomen after surgery.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Jana Petriganova DeGregoris, a nurse practitioner at the Mount Sinai hospital network, has filed a lawsuit against the health system. She alleges that a surgical needle was left inside her body following one of two procedures performed between 2018 and 2021.
Why it matters
The legal action highlights serious allegations regarding medical standard of care and patient safety within the healthcare network where the plaintiff is herself employed.
The lawsuit concerns a 1.5-inch needle discovered inside the plaintiff's abdomen, seven years after her initial surgery at the facility. Plaintiffs are seeking an unspecified amount of damages.
The players
Jana Petriganova DeGregoris
She is a cardiothoracic nurse practitioner employed by the Mount Sinai hospital network.
Mount Sinai
This is a large hospital network based in New York City that serves as a major medical provider.
Isabel Blumberg
She is named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs.
Philip Torina
He is named as a defendant in the lawsuit regarding the surgical oversight claim.
Scott Nguyen
He is named as a defendant in the litigation filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The details
Jana Petriganova DeGregoris, who has worked at Mount Sinai since 2013, discovered the foreign object during a CT scan in October 2025. She subsequently underwent a third surgery to remove the needle.
Timeline
June 28, 2018: The patient underwent a C-section.
November 17, 2021: The patient underwent abdominoplasty and hernia repair.
October 14, 2025: A 1.5-inch needle was identified during a CT scan.
September 24, 2026: The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Market Landscape
This case underscores the intense scrutiny facing major medical networks regarding surgical oversight and patient safety protocols. It follows broader industry trends where health systems are increasingly held accountable for post-operative complications and retained foreign objects.
Patients may feel prompted to review their own surgical history and request imaging if they experience unexplained, long-term abdominal pain. The outcome of this case may influence how local hospital systems handle patient disclosures and liability procedures.
The takeaway
Patients who experience persistent pain years after a surgical procedure should not hesitate to seek secondary diagnostic imaging. Medical professionals should prioritize rigorous item counts and safety checks to prevent similar occurrences of retained surgical objects.
Further reading
For more information on healthcare professional roles, visit Nursing Jobs.
