Some of the most tragic medical mistakes can occur during surgery, leading to severe and even permanent patient injuries.
If you are concerned about medical malpractice, there are a few things you need to know about when it comes to surgical errors.
We Expect a High Degree of Competence from Surgeons
When we undergo any kind of surgical treatment, it’s not unreasonable to expect surgeons to perform procedures with a certain level of attentiveness and care. Their training and expertise have prepared them to complete even the most complicated medical procedures with competence, avoiding errors and acting diligently should complications arise.
Sadly, there are instances in which surgeons can make costly and avoidable mistakes, ones that lead to severe issues with patient wellness. Sometimes these surgical mistakes can prove fatal or cause injury that is costly to repair or live. Let’s take a closer look at some of the more common medical malpractice cases.
Issues with Blood Loss During Surgery
If a surgeon does not adequately monitor a patient’s blood loss during surgery, or if the patient makes an accidental incision that ruptures a vein or artery, such matters can prove deadly. Blood loss and proper transfusion must be monitored by the surgeon and their assisting crew of nurses, technicians, and other medical professionals during surgery.
Leaving Surgical Instruments Inside a Patient
We’ve heard many stories about surgeons leaving instruments inside of patients. While we’d like to believe it doesn’t happen at all, there are a few cases in which it does due to neglect or fatigue from the surgeon. These instruments may include surgical sponges and gauze, as well as scalpels, clamps, and other far more dangerous surgical tools. These items left inside a patient can run the risk of puncturing organs or being extremely uncomfortable.
Operating on the Wrong Organ
Though rare, it’s not unheard of that one type of surgery is performed on the wrong person. Suppose a chart gets mixed up at a hospital or a surgeon is simply not paying attention to their duties. In that case, patients can undergo surgeries that are not what their own. Additionally, there’s a risk that an unaware doctor could operate an incorrect surgery on the correct organ. Such errors are inexcusable and altogether dangerous.
Problems with Anesthetic
Problems with anesthetic are no laughing matter. When there is too much anesthetic in the body, it can lead to serious medical concerns. There’s also a risk of an allergic reaction to the anesthetic that the attending staff must be aware of before the surgery. Most alarming, there are instances of patients becoming conscious and receptive to pain while still undergoing surgery, which leads to a horrifying and excruciating experience that can be avoided if the proper steps and precautions are in place.
Issues with Post-Operative Recovery and Care
Sometimes the mistakes made in surgery are not apparent until a patient is recovering. Issues with post-operative recovery and care that can cause patient injuries could come from a mistake made in surgery that doesn’t constitute itself until later, or it can also be due to poor recovery instructions.
Speak with the Attorneys of Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a surgical error that has lead to one or more patient injuries, be sure to contact our injury law firm today. The legal team at Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks is well-versed in medical malpractice lawsuits, and we’ll be there every step of the way as we fight for your medical rights and fair compensation.
We have two office locations in Utah, in Provo and South Jordan, and we proudly serve all Utah residents. For a free case evaluation, contact us today!