Wrong Site Surgeries Are Dangerous

Surgery

There are risks involved every time a patient undergoes a surgical procedure.  One of those risks is being the victim of a surgical error.  There are many types of surgical errors such as the use of non-sterilized surgical instruments and poor pre-operative planning.  Wrong site surgery is another form of surgical error which can be devastating.

Each year there are on average thirty million people who undergo surgery in the United States.  Of those thirty million, three thousand have endured a wrong site surgery.  In many cases, the patient who has experienced a wrong site surgery will remain in the same condition as before the surgery.  However, other cases will result in accidental amputation or wrongful death.  Many of these patients will require painful corrective surgery.

There are numerous reasons a wrong site surgery may occur, such as negligence or medical malpractice.  Wrong site surgery often results from:

  • Emergencies
  • Failure to review medical charts
  • Inadequate communication
  • Neglecting to mark the site
  • Operating on a patient who was given the test results of another patient by accident
  • Specific patient abnormalities
  • Surgical mix-up

There are some measures that doctors can take to prevent wrong site surgery.  These measures include physically marking the site of the surgery during the pre-operative preparations and having both the doctors and nurses double check one another as to the proper site of the surgery.

Wrong site surgery is a medical error that is so significant that it can result in severe patient harm, such as permanent injury or death.  There can be devastating emotional, physical and financial consequences for the patient.  Legal action can be time-consuming and complicated.  That is why it is important that you contact an experienced Kingston, New York medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.  We will review your medical records and establish liability so we can successfully pursue compensation to cover your financial loss, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.