Warning Signs
Despite stringent requirements and standard protocol created specifically to prevent surgical mistakes, errors in the operating room continue to happen, injuring thousands each year. Virtually all surgeries have risks associated, which patients’ are informed of prior to any procedure. Despite known risks, patients generally believe risk is minimal and their medical team, particularly the surgeon, are competent, experienced, and prudent enough to avoid errors. Unfortunately, surgical errors that can be attributed to medical negligence regularly occur.
Signs and symptoms vary depending on the type of surgical error. Common and avoidable surgical errors include performing the wrong procedure, operating on the wrong body part, or leaving a foreign instrument in the patient’s body. When surgical tools, equipment, or materials are left inside a person’s body inadvertently, an individual can develop life-threatening conditions, which often include infection. Be on the lookout for fever, chills, pain, and confusion.
Diagnosis & Care
- Surgical errors can take many forms, including:
- Drug and dosage mistakes, especially overdoses;
- Anesthesia mistakes;
- Blood transfusions with incorrect blood type;
- Misreading or failing to read closely a patient’s medical chart or medical history;
- Failure to follow pre-surgery protocol and instructions leading to surgery or amputation of the wrong body part or incorrect limb;
- Leaving a medical tool (i.e. scalpel) in the patient;
- Accidentally cutting vital organs with a medical tool; and
- Failure to follow protocol relating to pre-surgery clearance.
Expenses
Surgical error malpractice cases are most successful when it can be shown that the health care provider is not suitably experienced in the particular type of procedure, performed the procedure incorrectly or inconsistent with medical standards, or the individual(s) failed to administer the necessary surgical or medical procedures. Depending on the injury or medical harm caused by a surgical error, patient expenses vary, but an individual may be eligible for compensation covering medical costs, additional treatment, monthly bills, and lost income.
Treatment Centers
Our medical malpractice lawyers recognize that errors made during surgical procedures can cause a patient to suffer additional injuries that can require additional surgeries, treatments, and rehabilitation. It can be extremely costly, stress-inducing, and time-consuming to repair whatever damage has been done as a result of the surgical error. If you or a loved one have been the victim of a surgical mistake, contact the Law Offices of Wais, Vogelstein and Bedigian for a free consultation.
Books & Resources
For more information on surgical errors, the following resources are available: