Mistakes In Surgery Cause Serious Personal Injury

The risk to patients who go in for any type of surgery is inherent.  There is an expectation that the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and other health care professions will take care not to cause injury during the surgery.  However, this does not always occur.  Serious injuries can result when health care professionals are negligent.  Surgical errors can range from perforation of internal organs by surgical instruments, unwarranted procedures, and errors pertaining to pre- and post-operative care.

Thousands of people are affected by surgical errors every year.  Many of these errors arepreventable.  These estimates bring up serious concerns about the safety standards and the quality of care the medical profession provides.

Types of Surgical Errors:

• Anesthesia errors
• Bowel perforation
• Delayed surgery
• Failed cataract surgery
• Gastric bypass surgery malpractice
• Incorrect incisions
• Leaving surgical instruments inside the body
• Organ puncture or perforation
• Performing the wrong procedure
• Poor surgical technique
• Prolonged surgery
• Spinal cord injuries
• Wrong site surgery

Injuries that can result because of surgical malpractice include:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Brain damage
• Cardiovascular problems
• Coma
• Delays in healing
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage
• Paralysis
• Physical deformity
• Post-surgical infection
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Psychological and emotional problems
• Septic shock
• Death

The danger that errors will occur does not end once the patient leaves the operating room.  Complications during post-operative care can still occur.  What complications could occur depends on the type of surgery that was performed and they may not occur for weeks or months later.  Types of post-operative surgical complications include:

• Adverse drug events
• Atrial fibrillation
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Disordered healing
• Infection
• Hemorrhage
• Pain
• Renal failure
• Respiratory complications such as pneumonia
• Thromboembolism
• Urinary problems

Outcomes of Surgical Errors

Surgical errors can result in a range of outcomes.  They often lead patient suffering and lifelong complications.  While some may be able to return to the way they lived prior to surgery, other victims and the victim’s family may need to adapt to an entirely new way of living.  They may struggle with permanent disability, chronic pain and suffering, and shorter life spans.

There are also cases where the victim has died.  Their family is not only left with the loss of their loved one, but also the loss of financial support, funeral and medical expenses, loss of inheritance, and when children are involved, the loss of nurture and guidance the deceased parent would have provided.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of surgical malpractice, contact an experienced Kingston, New York medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible to evaluate your case.

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.