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What are the most common surgical errors?

On Behalf of | Jul 18, 2017 | Surgical Errors |

Surgical errors have the potential to be life-changing, and they can also end up leading to lawsuits. When you go into surgery, you do so to feel better, not to wake up feeling worse or fighting for your life.

Many things can go wrong in the operating room, some of which no one can predict. For example, if you have no history of an allergy and have an allergic reaction to a medication, that may not be a medical provider’s fault. However, many surgical errors are preventable with the right safety protocols.

One of the most common mistakes made during surgery is failing to remove all foreign objects. Whether it’s clamps or sponges, leaving a foreign object in the body can result in pain, infection and life-threatening illnesses. How can these items be left behind? Nurses and surgical assistants should be keeping track of the number of surgical tools used, but if someone miscounts or a sponge becomes so covered in blood that it’s not easy to see, it’s much easier to leave something in the body.

Another shocking issue that happens in the operating room is falls. No, not the doctor falling. It’s when a patient falls from a surgical table because of not being properly secured. Your body is moved during a procedure, and you might move without consciously trying to do so if you start to come out of anesthesia. If you fall, you could end up with serious injuries or a risk of infection.

Doctors, nurses and surgeons who make mistakes should be held accountable. Your attorney can help you seek the compensation you need for your pain and suffering.

Source: FindLaw, “5 Ways Surgery Errors Can Lead to Lawsuits,” Andrew Lu, accessed July 18, 2017

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