Surgery is a life-changing experience, often for most, if not all, people, and, at best, always an anxiety-filled event. You are entrusting a medical team with your care, and you would want that care to be taken with unwavering precision, skill, and attention to detail.
Unfortunately, despite the advancements in medical technology and training today, surgical errors still prove to be one of the unsettling facts of healthcare. These are often preventable errors that may lead to severe complications, prolonged recoveries, and even the loss of one’s life.
Understanding the type of surgical mistakes that occur is beneficial not only for practitioners but for patients as well. This post will describe the top five common surgical errors that endanger patients and their causes.
We’ll also outline why you should consult experienced surgical errors lawyers to protect yourself or your loved ones. Please continue reading to discover more.
Surgical Mistakes That Could Endanger Your Lives
- Wrong-site surgery: Imagine the fright of getting out of surgery and discovering that the surgical team performed the operation on the wrong part of your body or operated on the wrong side. These mistakes mainly occur due to poor communication, failure to verify patient information, or incomplete pre-operative checklists.
- Retained surgical items (RSI): Leaving a sponge, forceps, or needles inside the body is one of the most shocking but common surgical errors. Such items could make the patient suffer gruesome pain, infections, or internal damage if not detected on time.
- Anesthesia mistakes: Anesthesia is a process that requires critical calculations of dosage and type of medication based on the patient’s needs. Anesthesia mistakes entail medical errors, like giving a patient too little or too much anesthesia. As a result, complications could quickly occur, including brain damage due to oxygen deprivation or waking up mid-surgery.
- Nerve damage: This is when an improper technique is applied, or poor positioning during a procedure damages your nerves or a section of your nervous system. Such injuries often lead to chronic pain, loss of sensation, or even paralysis and can affect your quality of life thereafter.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of a Surgical Error
-
Consult a medical malpractice attorney immediately
The most critical step would be discussing it with a medical malpractice attorney. These lawyers specialize in dealing with medical negligence that has resulted in injury. They will:
- Review your medical records and any proof of the error
- Help you to understand whether you have a valid claim
Most malpractice attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that usually, you do not pay unless they win your case.
-
Act quickly to meet legal deadlines
Every country or state has a certain statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice claims. Many cases have small time frames from the date of the error or its discovery to take legal action. A lawyer can make sure you file your claim within this time.
-
Avoid negotiating with the hospital or insurance companies by yourself
After the error is discovered, the hospital and their insurance companies may try to contact you. Be cautious around them without your attorney. This is because they will try to offer a quick settlement that does not take into detail the full extent of your injuries and losses. Let all communications be directed to your lawyer.
Final Thoughts
Surgical errors are distressing incidents, as they have the potential to alter your life permanently. But the more you know about the risk and the steps you need to take, the better prepared you will be to protect yourself or get justice in case it is required.
You can confidently go through such a difficult time by working with the right professionals. And always remember, your health and safety are the number one priority!
