SAN DIEGO -- Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest was fined $25,000 by the California Department of Public Health on Tuesday for leaving a sponge in a surgical patient.

According to the CDPH, the surgical sponge was left in the patient who underwent a hysterectomy at Scripps Mercy Hospital in 2007. The woman had to undergo a second surgery more than a year later to have it removed. This is the third administrative penalty issued to Scripps Mercy by the CDPH.

Scripps Mercy is among seven hospitals in California that was fined for incidents that caused, or were likely to cause serious injury or death to patients. The fines range from $25,000 to $100,000.

The hospitals fined by the CDPH will be required to implement a plan of correction to prevent similar incidents in the future. The hospitals can appeal the penalties by requesting an administrative hearing.

"Ensuring quality patient care is vital to protecting and promoting the health of all Californians," said Dr. Mark Horton, the director of CDPH. "We will continue to work with California hospitals to attain our shared goal of excellence in patient care."