When we undergo surgery or any medical treatment, we place our health—and often our lives—in the hands of medical professionals. While most of the time, doctors and nurses fulfill their duty to deliver exceptional care, medical errors can and do occur. When surgical errors or other forms of medical malpractice happen, the consequences can be devastating. Understanding your rights in these situations can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
Surgical errors and medical malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional’s actions deviate from the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. This could happen in various forms, including misdiagnoses, incorrect treatments or failure to follow established procedures.
Surgical errors are mistakes made during surgery that could have been prevented, such as:
- Wrong-site surgery: Operating on the wrong body part or even the wrong patient.
- Nerve or organ damage: Injuries to organs or nerves that are not involved in the procedure.
- Leaving instruments inside the body: Tools or materials left in the body cavity after surgery, often causing severe infections and requiring additional surgeries.
- Anesthesia errors: Incorrect anesthesia dosages can lead to dangerous complications or even death.
Several factors may lead to surgical errors, including:
- Inadequate planning: Failure to adequately prepare for surgery can result in overlooked details, leading to unnecessary risks.
- Fatigue or overwork: Surgeons often work long, grueling hours. Fatigue can impair judgment and concentration.
- Communication breakdown: Miscommunication between surgical teams or departments can lead to serious errors, such as incorrect patient information or surgical site markings.
- Incompetence or lack of experience: While most surgeons are well-trained, errors can occur if a surgeon lacks the specific expertise required for a procedure.
Do you have a medical malpractice claim?
Not every medical complication or unexpected outcome is grounds for a malpractice claim. To establish a medical malpractice case, your attorney will work to prove that the healthcare provider had a professional duty to provide competent care and the provider failed to uphold that standard of care. This negligence must have directly caused harm to the patient.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny works with medical experts to analyze records and determine where negligence may have occurred. Holding healthcare providers accountable is important for recovering damages and can help prevent similar mistakes in the future. If you believe you may have been a victim of surgical error, reach out to us today.
Talk to an Ohio medical malpractice attorney today
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your medical malpractice claim. If you or a loved one were injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so that I can evaluate your case right away.