No matter the purpose or situation, surgery is a severe medical treatment. Furthermore, surgery is an invasive procedure that requires skill and precision to be performed correctly.
Unfortunately, mistakes can occur in the operating room due to the surgeon's negligence or unavoidable circumstances. While some surgical errors are just mistakes, others can lead to medical malpractice claims. Discover common surgical errors, causes, consequences, and how to file a claim.
Wrong-Site Surgery
Wrong-site surgery is one of the most common surgical errors. The error occurs when a surgeon performs an operation or injects anesthesia on the incorrect body part, organ, or patient. This error may be due to poor communication among members of the operating team, last-minute changes, or incorrect documentation.
Wrong-site surgery puts the victim at risk of permanent scarring, infections, and in severe cases, death. The surgery can also lead to unnecessary pain and suffering for the victim and extended hospital stays.
Unnecessary Operation
Considering the severe risks associated with any surgery, patients should never undergo unnecessary surgical procedures. This error occurs when a surgeon performs a procedure on the wrong patient or misdiagnoses a condition, leading to an unnecessary operation.
Unnecessary surgery may also occur due to a swap of medical records, wrong specimens sent for testing, or the patient being subject to multiple surgeries due to faulty equipment. The consequences of an unnecessary operation include unnecessary physical and emotional pain, lengthy recovery, incorrect diagnosis and treatment of the condition, and financial loss.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia errors occur when a patient is given the wrong dosage or type of anesthesia. Therefore, the anesthesiologist must keenly monitor the patient's vitals during the operation to avoid complications. Anesthesia errors can result from a lack of communication between the operating team, incorrect dosage, or unexpected reactions from medication given to the patient.
The consequences of an anesthesia error include seizure, dementia, respiratory distress, and hallucinations. In extreme cases, anesthesia errors may result in death.
Surgical Instruments or Sponges Left Inside Patients
Surgeons must count the number of surgical instruments and sponges used on a patient before, during, and after the surgery. This step is crucial in ensuring that none of the items are left inside the patient's body.
The causes of this error often include poor communication between operating team members or long work hours, which may cause fatigue. The consequences of this error include severe infection and organ damage, additional surgery to remove the instruments or sponges, and a more extended hospital stay.
Injuries Caused During Surgery
Surgical errors may also cause physical injuries and trauma during the procedure. These errors are usually caused by an inexperienced surgeon, faulty medical equipment, or lack of training to use the equipment.
Injuries caused during surgery can lead to permanent disability, disfigurement, additional surgeries, and extended hospital stay. In addition, the victim can also suffer severe pain and suffering due to these mistakes. If you or your loved one is a victim of any of the above surgical errors, you can file a medical malpractice claim. However, the success of your claim will depend on your ability to prove negligence.
Proving negligence can be daunting, so you need to consult a medical malpractice attorney with experience in such cases. An experienced lawyer will assess your case to establish if it qualifies as medical malpractice and help you build a strong claim. The attorney will also evaluate other factors, such as the amount of compensation you are entitled to and how long your case may take to settle.
You can trust us at the Law Offices of Janice Maloney to provide you with the help and guidance you need during this traumatic time. Our experienced medical malpractice attorneys are ready to assist you in getting the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
