There are many different kinds of surgery, and some are far more serious than others. In most cases, though, surgery is required when there is a serious condition. Especially in emergency or intensive care situations, surgery can be very dangerous because of the tenuous health of many of the patients. As a general rule, surgeons are very careful and are good at what they do. In far too many cases, though, they make avoidable mistakes with very serious consequences.
Millions of people turn to the surgery every year as the best and sometimes the only way to cure their ailments. Patients put their lives in the hands of surgeons, trusting them to do whatever they can to ensure the best possible outcome. However, surgeons can and sometimes do make mistakes — regardless of intent. Sadly, surgical errors are not uncommon, resulting in as many as 98,000 deaths annually in the United States. Non-fatal surgical errors occur at an equally alarming rate and often result in serious injury, like paralysis or permanent disability, to the patient.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury or harm because of a surgical error, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your losses including medical expenses, lost wages, mental anguish, and more. Please contact us today for a FREE consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney who can help ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Types of Surgical Errors
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Because surgery is such a complex task, there are many ways to make mistakes during it. Surgery is often performed on vital organs or already ailing parts of the body, and mistakes made in these circumstances can be fatal. Some of the most common errors include:
- Wrong Site Surgery
- Anesthesia Errors
- Surgery on Wrong Patient
- Incorrect Surgical Procedure
- Mishandling of Surgical Instruments
- Foreign Objects Inside Body Cavity
- Improper Suturing
- Complications
All of these mistakes are preventable, and it is very important to make sure that the medical community is held responsible for their actions.
Causes of Surgical Errors
All surgeries carry an inherent risk of injury, but a negligent surgeon or healthcare professional can greatly that risk. Common causes of surgical errors include:
- Inattentiveness
- Fatigue
- Miscommunication
- Poor handwriting
- Recklessness
All of these factors can potentially lead to a surgical error — types of which include wrong-site surgery , wrong patient surgery, incorrect incision, and others.
Egregious Surgical Errors
There is very little room for error when a scalpel is involved. The performance of surgical procedures requires highly skilled doctors with sure and steady hands, since even the slightest misstep in the middle of an operation has the potential to cause a patient to suffer serious injury. The harm resulting from such an error may be irreparable or even fatal. Despite the fact that operating rooms are high stress environments and that the surgeons who work within them are often stretched thin by demanding schedules, there are some surgical errors that are absolutely inexcusable and for which negligent medical professionals must be held accountable.
Inexcusable Offenses
No surgical error is acceptable, but there are some which wholly defy logic and understanding. Despite the obvious need to avoid injurious mistakes, an alarming number of terrible offenses occur each year here in Pennsylvania and around the nation. Some of the most senseless surgical errors include:
- Wrong patient surgery
- Wrong site surgery
- Wrong operation
- Failure to remove foreign objects from the body cavity
Surgical Errors and Their Consequences
Surgical errors can have many grave consequences. Victims and their families are often forced to deal with enormous medical costs and other devastating consequences, such as:
- Multiple corrective surgeries
- Poor surgical results
- Nerve and/or organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Infection
Patients who have suffered an injury due to a surgical error have legal rights, including the right to hold the liable party accountable. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury or harm because of the negligence or wrongdoing of a medical professional, you need to ensure that your rights are protected .
Please contact a local medical malpractice attorney today for a FREE case evaluation with a compassionate and experienced medical malpractice attorney who inform you of your legal rights and help you seek the justice you deserve.