Sophia Soraya
November 29, 2021
Anyone injured by common surgical errors should discuss their rights with a skilled medical malpractice attorney. Surgeons carry out some of the most complicated, risky, and often life-threatening work. Becoming a surgeon is a lengthy and often challenging process, requiring formal education and 3-10 years of residency and training. Even with all that training, some surgeons still fall short of the level of skill required to perform their duties. This could lead to serious errors that harm patients.
Types of Common Surgical Errors
When a patient goes in for surgery, they sign a consent form that explains the risks including death. However, in that warning is an expectation that the doctors who carry out the surgery and their assistants will do their jobs properly.
Unfortunately, medical professionals do make mistakes. Patients suffer injuries that could be anywhere from minor to serious or even deadly. Healthcare providers must carry out their responsibilities with reasonable care and diligence. Those who are unable to do so are liable for medical malpractice if there is evidence of medical negligence.
Evidence of negligence may include the following:
- Unnecessary or inappropriate surgeries. When a doctor recommends surgery, it might not always be necessary. There are many unnecessary surgeries conducted each year, exposing the patient to unnecessary risk or long-term complications.
- Performing the wrong surgery. There are also times when the patient ends up having the wrong surgery done. In this case, the patient not only has to recover from the wrong surgery, but the initial condition remains untreated.
- Wrong-site surgery. Medical procedures such as amputations can be carried out on the wrong part of the patient’s body, often owing to errors in records or the failure of medical professionals to follow proper procedures before surgery. This exposes the patient to severe disfigurement and unnecessary risk of harm – besides not treating the underlying condition.
- Leaving surgical tools in the body. One would think this should not be possible, but a few patients after surgery go home and then discover that tools used in the surgery were left in their bodies.
- Anesthesia errors. Anesthesia is essential in managing pain during surgery, but if not correctly applied, the patient could suffer adverse consequences. For example, the right amount of anesthesia. If too little or too much is applied or if the staff fails to monitor the patient, this could lead to serious, permanent injuries that could also be deadly.
- Infections. Use of unsanitary medical equipment or improper use of antiseptics leads to serious injuries and other complications, including organ failure.
These and other surgical errors can kill a patient. Even if they do not die, they could suffer serious injuries that could be permanent, and in some cases, they may require complicated emergency treatments to reverse the medical error.
Let Our New Jersey Medical Malpractice Attorneys Help You
If you have suffered an injury because of a medical error, speak with a New Jersey medical malpractice lawyer at Varcadipane & Pinnisi, P.C. Please contact our office today for a free consultation – we serve New Jersey and also have an office in NY.
Sophia Soraya
Sophia Soraya is a seasoned attorney specializing in complex civil matters, with a focus on personal injury, professional malpractice, and product liability cases across New York and New Jersey. Sophia is a Partner with the Firm and has been selected as a Super Lawyers, Rising Star for consecutive years.
University: J.D. New England Law (Boston)
Bar Number: 000402013
Locations: New Jersey and New York.
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