Surgical errors still occur in the U.S., according to reports in medical journals. Common types of medical errors include leaving objects in patients, performing surgery in the wrong location, and surgical fires. When a surgical error occurs, injured patients may be able to seek compensation through the medical malpractice litigation process.
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a surgical error, contact Attorney Group for more information. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and can inform you of your options. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney experienced in medical malpractice litigation, who can assist you through the legal process.
Important: The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.
Surgical Errors Include Leaving Objects in Patients
A review of medical literature focusing on the factors underlying three types of surgical “never events”, retained objects, wrong-site surgeries, and surgical fires, indicates that human error is a common cause of these serious mistakes. According to Fox News, the review used data from 138 studies published during the decade leading up to 2014. The researchers found that, though the never events typically involved complex factors, they frequently occurred when surgical staff didn’t communicate effectively.
The researchers concluded that various forms of miscommunication could raise the risk of harmful outcomes. When staff members misunderstood each other or failed to receive all available information, mistakes were more likely to happen. Additionally, many errors occurred when members of surgical teams withheld their reservations about a procedure or disregarded the concerns of others. According to the review, the frequency of never events varies based on the procedure and method of tracking. Some errors occur fairly infrequently; for example, only about one in 100,000 procedures are wrong-site surgeries. Others mistakes, such as retained objects, are present in about one in 10,000 procedures, which is alarming given the number of surgeries performed in the U.S. each year, the website reported.
Affected Patients May Be Entitled to Compensation
Patients who have been injured due to the fault of a healthcare provider may be entitled to compensation. Damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Mental anguish
If a patient dies as a result of a healthcare provider’s mistake, family members may be able to pursue wrongful death claims. These kinds of damages can include:
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Medical expenses attributable to the injury
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
Affected families are encouraged to speak with a medical malpractice litigation attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you may have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group today.
