Surgeons go through extensive training in order to learn how to safely perform procedures on a patient. However, everyone makes mistakes, even surgeons. If a surgeon makes a mistake during your procedure, you may suffer serious complications or need additional treatment to correct the mistake.
Surgical errors are a form of medical malpractice, which means you could be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering if you are a victim.
What is a Surgical Error?
Complications that arise during surgery are sometimes out of the doctor’s hands. But, when a mistake is preventable, this is known as a surgical error.
Before you go into surgery, you will probably have to sign a document that states you are aware of the risks associated with the procedure. The surgeon will require that you sign this form in order to legally protect himself if one of these known risks does occur during the surgery. However, this document does not protect the surgeon in cases involving preventable surgical errors.
Some examples of surgical errors include:
- Administering the wrong dosage of medication
- Performing the surgery on the wrong body part
- Performing the surgery on the wrong patient
- Causing damage to nerves during the surgery
- Leaving a surgical tool inside the patient’s body after the procedure is finished
Causes of Surgical Errors
Surgical errors can occur for a number of reasons, including:
Fatigue
Surgeons who operate when they are fatigued may not be able to think or react to changes in the circumstances quickly. Surgery requires a lot of concentration and focus, and sometimes this can be difficult for people who are fatigued.
Lack of Experience
Some surgeons simply do not have experience performing certain types of procedures, and a result, they are more likely to make errors than experienced surgeons. However, this is no excuse for making a surgical error and cannot be used as a defense if you choose to file a medical malpractice claim.
Poor Planning
Surgeons and their staff of nurses and assistants must properly prepare for each and every surgery. This includes reviewing the patient’s medical history, going over the procedure in detail, and gathering all of the tools and medical equipment that will be needed to operate. Failure to take these steps may result in surgical errors if someone who is assisting in the operation is not prepared.
Miscommunication
If a surgeon fails to tell his team of nurses and assistants what is needed for the operation, how much medicine to administer, or where the surgery will be performed on the body, errors can occur.
Carelessness
Some surgical errors, such as infections caused by unsterilized equipment or tools that are left behind in the patient’s body, are a result of carelessness. All medical professionals have a responsibility to practice extreme caution when treating a patient, especially when they are performing a complicated procedure. When a surgeon or nurse fails to properly care for the patient, careless errors could occur.
Determining the cause of your surgical error will help you identify which parties should be held liable for your injuries. This can be a tough task unless you rely on the experienced attorneys at Trial Lawyers for Justice.
Our Team Can Help Victims of Surgical Errors
No one ever expects to suffer from complications as a result of a surgery, especially if these complications are a result of a surgeon’s error. If you believe your surgeon or someone on his operating team made errors during your procedure, contact an attorney at the Trial Lawyers for Justice to discuss your legal options. Call 866-854-5529 to schedule a free consultation today.