The State Department of Public Health has fined 14 California hospitals for safety issues, including one in Ventura County.
Simi Valley Hospital was fined $25,000 for an incident in which a sponge was left inside a woman for four years, and was only discovered following a second surgery. Hospital officials have said they reported the accident to the state, calling it a regrettable incident, and say they have taken additional steps to prevent further such issues.
