The Truth About Surgical Errors and Medical Malpractice

Surgical errors are a type of medical malpractice in which something damaging occurs to a patient as a direct result of negligence. These types of errors can range from the minor to something that can alter a patient’s life forever.

And in many instances, the error was not merely a mistake but was caused by carelessness or negligence. Let’s review some of the more common types of surgical errors so that you have a firm grasp of what is actionable for a legal claim.

Instruments Left In the Body Area Common Type of Medical Malpractice Error

 Though it may seem hard to believe, some doctors fail to remove all surgical instruments after surgery, and they sew up a patient with those instruments still in the patient’s body. This can cause all kinds of problems like internal bleeding, especially if the instrument that was left in the patient’s body is sharp.

Typically, doctors and nurses are supposed to have a checklist of all instruments and are supposed to do a count before they sew up a patient. But due to negligence and carelessness, this count does not always happen.

Wrong Site Surgery Is a Common Surgical Error

 When doctors and nurses fail to review their pre-surgery safety checklist, it can result in wrong-site surgery, in which doctors operate on the wrong body part or the wrong side of a patient. While it may sound mildly amusing, wrong-site surgery is no laughing matter, because it can cause serious health complications in a patient.

Some hospitals have set up computerized pre-surgery procedures that automatically provide doctors and nurses with the name of the patient and the surgery that is to be performed. Doctors are then supposed to confirm that they have read and understood the surgery that is going to be performed before they begin the surgery. If there is no confirmation, the system flags the surgery and issues an alert as a final means of preventing wrong-site surgery.

Damage To Vital Organs Is Another Common Surgical Error

In some instances, a surgeon’s negligence will cause damage to an organ that is adjacent to the organ on which he or she performed the operation. This could include a puncture or perforation that could create internal bleeding and other serious problems.

Advocating For Justice

Surgical errors are often the result of negligence and not the result of what someone would call a ‘reasonable mistake.’ In fact, one of the standards of proving negligence in these types of medical malpractice claims is showing that the doctor did not provide reasonable care that is expected of people in his profession. The experienced law firm of Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton, P.A. has successfully pursued many of these claims and has the resources and expertise to hold doctors accountable for their actions. Please contact us today for a free consultation.

Additional Reading

Reasons Why Emergency Room Errors Happen
Common Medical Errors