Even under ideal circumstances, it can be stressful to undergo surgery. Yet, you might take comfort with the fact that your surgeon has years, perhaps even decades, of education, training, and experience, thereby rendering them competent. While that might be true to a certain extent, these medical professionals are people, and people make mistakes. In the surgical context, even what seems like a minor error at first can have devastating consequences.
How common are surgical errors?
More common than you’d think. Some studies show that as many as 4,000 surgical errors occur across the country each year. Approximately 1,500 of those errors involve leaving a surgical instrument inside a patient’s body. As if these numbers aren’t staggering enough, those who are victimized by medical malpractice can face life-long harm, including permanent disability, disfigurement, pain and suffering, financial ruin, and even death.
How do surgical errors occur?
There are several types of surgical errors. They include:
- Retaining of a surgical instrument, like a sponge or scalpel.
- Operating on the wrong part of the patient’s body.
- Administering the wrong dose of anesthesia.
- Improperly using or failure of medical equipment.
- Failing to adhere to hygiene and infection protocols.
- Conducting imprecise incisions that nick organs, nerves, or blood vessels.
- Inadequately communicating amongst hospital staff.
As you can see, there’s a lot that can go wrong during an operation. If you’ve been harmed by any of these medical mistakes, then you should consider taking legal action.
Are you ready to pursue a medical malpractice claim?
If so, then now is the time to get to work building your case. You’ll need to gather physical and documentary evidence, speak to witnesses, and consult with experts who may be able to give you an edge in your case. By doing so, you’ll hopefully be able to find closure and secure the financial resources you need.