CNN —A surgical tool the size of a dinner plate was found inside a woman’s abdomen 18 months after her baby was delivered by cesarean section, according to a report by New Zealand’s Health and Disability Commissioner. The AWR is a retractable cylindrical device with a translucent film used to draw back the edges of a wound during surgery. The woman suffered months of chronic pain and went for several checkups to find out what was wrong, including X-rays that showed no sign of the device. New Zealand’s Health and Disability Commissioner, Morag McDowell, found Te Whatu Ora Auckland – the Auckland District Health Board – in breach of the code of patient rights, in a report released on Monday. Dr Mike Shepherd, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand group director of operations for Te Toka Tumai Auckland, apologized for the error in a statement.

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Persons: Alexis retractor, Morag McDowell, Te, Ora, cesarean, ” McDowell, Alexis Retractor doesn’t, McDowell, Dr Mike Shepherd, Whatu Ora, ” Organizations: CNN, New Zealand’s Health, Disability, Auckland City Hospital, Health, AWRs, Ora Health Locations: Auckland, Ora, Toka, Te Toka