'Doctor, we're missing a sponge...'

Radio frequency identification chips, similar to those implanted in products to deter theft, may help prevent sponges and other materials from being left in a patient during surgery, the findings from a small study suggest.

That's the opening paragraph in this rather disturbing article from ZDNet about just how often this sort of thing happens. The good news seems to be just how easily it may be solved once and for all.