Surgical Mistakes
Ohio Medical Malpractice Attorneys Representing Victims of Surgical Mistakes
When the need for a surgical procedure arises, we expect the surgeon and his medical team to be skilled and careful enough to perform the procedure without surgical mistakes. Hundreds of thousands of surgical procedures are performed without any problems every year. Unfortunately, surgeons can and do make mistakes. Many things can go wrong before, during and/or after a surgical procedure.
Although most surgeries carry some risk of blood clots, anesthesia reactions and cardiovascular complications, thousands of people suffer in this country as a result of surgical negligence. Surgical mistakes can result in long hospitalizations, additional medical expenses, permanent injuries and, for as many as 98,000 Americans every year, death.
Surgical mistakes can be committed by surgeons, anesthesiologists, surgical staff or hospital nursing personnel. When a surgical injury is the result of negligence of a medical provider, the patient may have a medical malpractice claim.
Common surgical mistakes include:
- Organ perforation, puncture or laceration. Unintentional perforations, punctures or cuts of organ tissues can cause serious injury. In addition, scalpels can nick or cut tendons, nerves or blood vessels resulting in permanent loss of function and/or dangerous bleeding.
- Surgical instruments or sponges left inside the patient’s body may cause infection, pain, internal bleeding, and nerve damage. Gauze, clamps, retractors and sponges are the surgical tools most often left inside the patient’s body. Many times, a long period of time can elapse before discovery of the error, which can result in serious complications.
- Unsanitary surgical instruments or unsanitary surgical conditions can cause cross-contamination of disease and life-threatening infections.
- Improper administration and monitoring of anesthesia. Errors involving anesthesia are often life-threatening and can cause asphyxia, permanent brain damage, comas and death.
- Inappropriate post-operative care, including post-surgical infections and improper post-surgical care. Medical staff has the responsibility to monitor patients for signs of infection, hemorrhage, embolisms, blood clots, and respiratory and cardiac distress. Substandard post-operative care can result in serious infections, septic shock, longer healing, delayed recovery and even death.
Other less common serious mistakes include:
- Wrong site surgery. As incredible as it may sound, between 60 and 70 cases are reported every year in which the surgeon performs a surgical procedure on the wrong part of the body.
- Wrong surgical procedure
- Wrong patient
Even though surgical mistakes can occur during any type of procedure, laparoscopic procedures, obstetric procedures, gastric bypass surgery and cosmetic surgery carry increased risks of surgical negligence.
Clark, Perdue & List
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced surgical mistake attorney, please contact us.
RECENT BLOG POSTS FOR MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
The Importance of Proper Nursing Home Care for Dementia Patients
Caring for dementia patients is a complex and challenging responsibility, requiring specialized knowledge, skills, and resources. As the aging population continues to grow, an increasing number of families are turning to nursing homes to provide care for their loved...
A Columbus Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Talks About Bed Sores
Bed sores (also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers) are not only painful but potentially dangerous. This condition can develop in anyone who must be immobile for an extended period of time. This subjects the skin and underlying tissue to pressure which, in...
How Common Is Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?
While nursing home neglect and abuse are both acknowledged to be serious problems across the country, many Columbus residents don’t realize how frequently these issues occur. Thousands of families are affected every year, yet not every case of abuse and neglect gets...
How to Choose a Medical Malpractice Attorney
Have you been seriously injured due to the negligence of a Columbus health care provider? A medical malpractice attorney can provide you with the help you need to recover from the experience – but you’ll need to find a lawyer who is up to the task. Malpractice cases...
What Does It Cost to Hire a Columbus Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?
You suspect that a loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse. An attorney can help you build a strong legal case and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Working with an experienced Columbus nursing home neglect lawyer increases the likelihood of...
Another Case of Nursing Home Abuse Caught on Camera
We have reported in earlier posts that new legislation allows the use of recording devices in nursing homes. Unfortunately more cases are being reported about nursing home abuse caught on camera.