The Most Common Surgical Errors
After Michael, a 22-year-old nursing student, had a minor seizure, a CT scan revealed a tiny spot on his brain. The neurosurgeon on call recommended surgery, saying it would be dangerous to wait. However, the surgeon did not remove nor even find a cyst. After several more surgeries, Michael suffered numerous complications that included infections, paralysis, psychosis and respiratory arrest. Almost three years after his initial surgery, Michael died from one of the common surgical errors mentioned below.
Unfortunately, tragic medical errors happen more often than any of us wants to imagine. More than 4,000 preventable surgical errors are made every year. Moreover, researchers estimate the actual number is even higher because many of these mistakes are never discovered or reported.
Here is an overview of common surgical errors that can turn deadly.
Common Surgical Errors: What You Should Know
The medical profession refers to certain mistakes as “never events,” incidents that should never be allowed to happen. Unfortunately, these mistakes do happen, often with tragic results that include serious illness, disability or death.
Here are some examples:
- Operating on the wrong site or opposite eye or limb
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Performing the wrong procedure
While such errors sound preposterous and preventable, doctors do make these kinds of mistakes. In many instances, prevention may be as simple as improving the checks and balances during the pre-operative phase.
- Infections
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1.7 million people a year develop infections while in the hospital. Often, these infections start on or near surgical sites, and many are resistant to antibiotics.
- Anesthesia errors
Anesthesia is one of the riskiest aspects of any surgical procedure. Administering the wrong drug or dosage, or improperly monitoring a patient during surgery can have deadly consequences. Sometimes these mistakes occur because the medical staff failed to take a thorough patient history prior to surgery.
- Leaving sponges or other surgical accessories and instruments inside a patient’s body after surgery
While completely preventable, failing to remove objects is a common surgical error. This type of negligence can cause serious infection, especially if the foreign object(s) remain in the body for an extended time.
- Defective implants
Some hip implant patients have developed serious complications caused by dangerously high levels of metal ions. When released into the body, these ions may cause tissue damage, metallosis and other problems. In these cases, a lawsuit would typically be filed against the implant manufacturer, rather than the surgeon.
- Uncoordinated care or poor communication between medical care providers
When members of the medical team fail to communicate about a patient’s care, mistakes are more likely to happen. Overworked doctors or nurses may neglect to provide all the necessary information on a patient’s chart. This can lead to serious consequences, especially when important information is omitted during the pre-surgical phase.
- Premature discharge
Patients are often discharged after surgery before they are ready to leave the hospital. Post-surgical complications can become dangerous if they occur after the patient has gone home. Additionally, some patients are discharged without adequate aftercare instructions or follow-up.
If you or a loved one has suffered consequences from a medical or surgical mistake, call us immediately. Our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys will make sure you receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Medical malpractice law is complicated, but finding the right lawyer is simple.
Call 1-800-MALPRACTICE today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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