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When surgical mistakes are made by a medical professional during a surgical procedure, medical negligence on behalf of that individual may be to blame. When medical negligence leads to surgical mistakes, the doctor responsible may be held liable for any damages caused to the patient. A negligent medical professional can be held liable for surgical mistakes through a personal injury lawsuit filed by the injured party who seeks to recover damages.
In the most extreme of cases, surgical mistakes involve a medical professional performing surgery on the wrong part of a patient's body or on the wrong patient altogether. Reports of these wrong site surgical mistakes have increased dramatically over the last few years. One independent commission found that between 1998 and 2001 the number of reported wrong site surgical mistakes jumped from fifteen to one hundred fifty cases.
Surgical mistakes may not always be as obvious as wrong site surgery. Medical negligence may result in surgical mistakes in any case where a medical professional fails to meet the standards of his/her profession thereby causing harm to a patient. Surgical mistakes can include performing the wrong procedure at the correct surgical site, leaving a procedure incomplete, causing damage to the surgical or surrounding areas, failure to complete the intended procedure, anesthesia mistakes, and other acts or negligence of this nature.
Surgical mistakes can happen in any area of medicine, though they tend to be more common in certain fields. Orthopedic and podiatric operations tend to have the highest rate of surgical mistakes, followed by general surgery, neurosurgery, urological surgery, and dental procedures. Surgeries performed in emergency situations also tend to have a high rate of surgical mistakes. Surgical mistakes can happen in any field of medicine when a medical expert fails to exact the amount of care and prudence required in his/her professional capacity.
There are many negligent acts that can cause surgical mistakes. Poor or incomplete surgical planning on behalf of medical experts can lead to surgical mistakes during a procedure. A medical facility that lacks institutional goals or lacks adequate surgical process protocol may also contribute to the rate of surgical mistakes. Lack or inadequate communication between medical professionals during the surgical process can also increase the risk of surgical mistakes being made. Surgical mistakes can also be the result of a medical expert's failure to exercise due care at any point in the surgical process.
Surgical mistakes may not always be blaringly obvious to a patient after a procedure, though in some cases they are easily identifiable. If you suspect that a surgical mistake was made during a procedure performed on you or a loved one, you may wish to speak with a trained and experienced legal professional. These legal experts know what to look for when investigating cases of surgical mistakes. Please contact us to speak with an attorney who can evaluate your case to determine your legal rights and options.
Additional Information on Surgical Mistakes:
AHRQ -
Reducing Errors in Health Care
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