Surgical Mistakes Have the Potential to Cause Pain, Suffering, and Death

 Posted on May 04, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Whether it is a minor surgical procedure or a major operation, going “under the knife” can be a frightening prospect. Most surgeries performed in the United States are completed without mistakes or complications, but this is not always the case. In fact, Medical errors are so common that they are considered to be the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. today. Preventable mistakes during surgery make up a large portion of these errors. It is estimated that over 4,000 surgical mistakes occur every year and that these mistakes result in more than $1.3 billion in medical malpractice payouts. If you or a loved one have suffered due to a surgical error, you may be entitled to compensation.

Why Do Surgical Errors Occur?

Surgeons, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals often have extremely busy, stressful days. Few would dispute that working in the healthcare industry is one of the most challenging jobs there is. Sometimes, however, the stress and long hours can create serious problems, as some surgical mistakes are a result of oversight caused by fatigue. Others are due to lack of proper education or training, inadequate preoperative planning, or poor communication between medical staff. In rare cases, a surgical mistake may even be the result of a healthcare worker’s drug or alcohol use. Whatever the reason, medical workers who make negligent mistakes during surgery should be held responsible for their actions.

Common Mistakes During Surgery

It is estimated that every week in the U.S, there are 39 instances of medical staff leaving objects such as sponges and medical instruments inside of a patients’ bodies. Approximately 20 times a week, surgeons perform surgery on the wrong body part. Other surgical errors that are disturbingly common include anesthesia errors, prescription medication errors, inadequate sterilization, use of defective surgical equipment, and the use of incorrect surgical techniques. Doctors and surgeons have a legal duty to provide medical care that is reasonably competent, and mistakes like these are generally inexcusable. When a medical professional breaches this duty, the medical facility or the professional himself  may be found liable for the damages that result.

Contact a Rockford Surgical Errors Attorney

Surgical errors can cause patients to experience new and worsening symptoms, excruciating pain, and lifelong medical consequences, and those who survive major surgical errors may be left seriously impaired. They may need multiple surgeries to correct the mistake as well as ongoing medical treatment. They may be left unable to work and burdened by extreme pain. If you or a loved one suffered as the result of a surgical error, contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law to learn about your options for compensation. Call us at 815-215-7561 to schedule a free, no obligation case assessment with a skilled Winnebago County medical malpractice lawyer.

Source:

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20121220/thousands-mistakes-surgery#1