San Diego Surgical Error Lawyer
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits for Surgical Errors
Surgery can be a scary time for a patient, especially if they have never been in surgery before. Doctors are required to meet with patients extensively before a surgery to discuss the potential risks of the procedure, the nature of the procedure and the expected outcome of the procedure. Whether because of doctor oversight, blatant negligence or lack of communication, a surgical error is inexcusable. While some surgical procedures are high-risk by nature, surgical errors are caused by doctor negligence rather than the complex nature of the procedure itself.
Types of Surgical Errors
While there are many types of surgical errors, the ones listed below are included on the list of never events. This means that there is never an excuse for these types of errors, and the medical facility and surgeon should be held accountable.
Wrong Site Surgery
Wrong site surgery is when a surgeons performs a medical procedure on the
wrong part of the body. For example, a doctor could remove a healthy kidney
while leaving the infected one. This is the most commonly reported never
event reported to The Joint Commission.
Retention of a Foreign Object
This is another type of surgical never event that involves a surgeon leaving
behind a medical instrument after the surgery is over and the body cavity
has been closed up. Retaining a foreign object such as a scalpel or gauze
post-surgery is incredibly dangerous. This event accounts for 12 percent
of never events.
Other types of surgical errors include mistaken incisions, anesthesia errors, surgery on the wrong patient and maternal death during a low-risk pregnancy delivery.
Bostwick & Peterson San Diego Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been injured because of a surgical error, contact a firm with an attorney who is certified as a specialist in this area. Bostwick & Peterson, LLP also has attorneys on staff that are AV® Rated on Martindale-Hubbell® and included in the list of Super Lawyers®.
For a free evaluation of your case, call our firm today!