A surgical error is defined as any act or omission by a surgical team that may result in harm to a patient. This includes errors made before, during, and after surgery. While some surgical errors are unavoidable, most can be prevented with proper planning and execution. In the worst-case scenario, though, the best surgical errors attorney Chicago has to offer can help you through a medical malpractice case.
Pre-operative errors can include incorrect patient identification or failure to properly assess the patient’s medical history. During surgery, errors can include incorrect procedure or dose of medication, incorrect equipment use, or operating on the wrong body part. Post-operative errors can include failure to properly monitor the patient or timely report and treat complications.
The consequences of surgical errors can be devastating. Patients can suffer physical harm, disability, and even death. In some cases, patients may require additional surgery to correct the damage caused by the original error. In the most serious cases, patients may be left with permanent disabilities or require lifelong care.
Surgical errors can also result in serious and long-term injuries, such as internal bleeding, infection, organ damage, and paralysis. Many patients who suffer surgical errors are never the same again, both physically and emotionally.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a surgical error, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a personal injury lawyer to learn more.
Some of the most common surgical errors include the following:
Operating on the Wrong Body Part
One of the most serious risks is operating on the wrong body part. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as surgical error or incorrect patient identification. When this happens, it can lead to serious injury or even death
These surgeries can have devastating consequences for patients. In addition to the risk of serious injury or death, patients may also experience long-term damage to their health. For example, a patient who has surgery on the wrong body part may end up with a permanent disability.
If you are considering surgery, it is important to be aware of the risk of operating on the wrong body part. Talk to your doctor about the potential risks and make sure that you understand what steps will be taken to reduce the risk of this happening.
Leaving Surgical Instruments or Other Foreign Objects in the Patient’s Body
Leaving surgical instruments or other foreign objects in the patient’s body is a serious complication that can occur during surgery. When this happens, the object can cause infection, pain, and other problems. In some cases, it may even be necessary to remove the object surgically.
There are a number of things that can increase the risk of leaving surgical instruments or other foreign objects in the patient’s body. For example, surgeon fatigue can lead to mistakes, and complex surgeries are also more likely to result in this type of complication.
If you have any concerns that a foreign object may have been left in your body after surgery, please speak with your doctor.
Performing the Wrong Surgery
One of the most common mistakes during surgery is operating on the wrong body part. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as confusion about the patient’s anatomy or surgical plans that were changed last minute. Sometimes, surgeons even operate on the wrong patient!
Infecting the Patient With a Surgical Infection
There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of a patient developing a surgical site infection. Some of these risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Chronic renal failure
- HIV/AIDS
- Cardiovascular disease
- Immunosuppression
- Previous history of SSI
- Use of corticosteroids
- Advanced age
These are just some of the most common surgical errors. If you or a loved one has been harmed by a surgical error, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified medical malpractice lawyer to learn more.
