Surgical Errors are a Type of Medical Malpractice

Surgery always comes with certain risks. The very nature of surgery is intricate and requires meticulous work, along with anesthetics that pose their own potential risks. Surgeons though, along with the other healthcare professionals in the room, are required to uphold a very strict duty of care. When they are negligent and make mistakes, they can face liability for the added medical expenses and other losses the patient incurs. Below are some of the most common surgical errors that could result in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Objects Left Inside the Patient

It may seem unthinkable that any healthcare professional could leave a surgical object inside a patient, but it happens more often than people think. Surgery often takes several hours and medical staff become extremely fatigued. Additionally, when a hospital is understaffed, it increases the risk of sponges, clamps, and other tools inside a patient to go unnoticed. Objects left inside a patient is a very serious type of medical malpractice, as the tool is sometimes not discovered for weeks or months after the initial surgery.

Operating on the Incorrect Location

It is crucial that surgeons operate on the correct body part. Unfortunately, miscommunication and other errors can cause surgeons to perform a procedure on the wrong body part. Worst case scenarios can result in improper amputations, operating on a healthy body party, and more. When this happens, patients also still suffer from the original problem that required surgery, as well as the injury caused by the initial surgery.

Operating on the Wrong Patient

When the wrong patient is operated on, it is typically due to carelessness. Hospitals are busy places and many patient charts are passed from one person to the next. Sometimes, a surgeon may receive the wrong chart and perform a surgery on the wrong patient. Understaffing and a chaotic work environment are no excuse for medical malpractice, however, and all staff must be able to work effectively at all times.

Damaging Other Tissues or Organs

Surgery requires steady hands and movements with purpose. If a surgeon has even the slightest tremor or slip of the hand, delicate tissues or even major organs may become cut or otherwise damaged. When this occurs, emergency surgery is often required to repair organs, control internal hemorrhages, and to repair other injuries.

Performing Unnecessary Surgery

Surgery is invasive and should always only be used as a last resort. Unnecessary surgeries are often the result of a diagnosis error. The diagnosing doctor may recommend surgery when another option is available that is less invasive. This type of mistake means the patient now faces all common risks associated with surgery, as well as those made due to medical malpractice.

Our Florida Medical Malpractice Lawyers can Help Make Things Right

If you have been the victim of a surgical error, you may be eligible for compensation to help with your medical expenses, lost income, and more. Medical malpractice cases though, are some of the most complex personal injury claims. At Eighmie Law Firm, P.A., our Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyers know how to navigate these claims, and overcome the challenges associated with them. Call us today at (772) 905-8692 or contact us online to schedule a consultation to learn more.

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