In my years of representing the injured victim in medical malpractice cases, I have learned one thing: doctors are human and as such, they too make mistakes. Despite what we want to believe, and what medical professionals want us to believe, we aren’t always safe in the hospital.
Every time you walk into a hospital you are at risk. That risk increases exponentially when you go under the knife. When you have surgery, you subject your body not only to risks specific to the procedure, but also to human error and infection. Therefore, it is important to consider all options before you consent to surgery.
Some surgeries should be avoided, if possible, because the benefits may not outweigh the risks.
The following procedures may be unnecessary and should be avoided if possible:
1) Stents for Angina – Commonly used to treat heart attacks, stents are small mesh tubes meant to keep arteries open to prevent or fix blockages. Some doctors will suggest implanting stents on patients suffering from angina. However, this practice is unnecessary and can lead to future harm.
2) Lower-Back Surgery – Often performed to treat back pain from spinal stenosis, lower-back surgeries consists of using bone grafts to fuse vertebrae together, preventing motion, in an attempt to stop pain. Along with serious complications, fusion surgeries are said to only provide temporary relief, commonly leaving patients worse than when they started.
3) Hysterectomy – Suggested to treat problems such as heavy bleeding and uterine fibroids, hysterectomies are performed on around 600,000 women annually in the United States. When a woman undergoes a hysterectomy, she is instantly thrown into menopause, putting her at a higher risk for heart disease and lung cancer. Furthermore, a hysterectomy is a major surgery that requires lengthy recovery time. The problems caused by unnecessary hysterectomies tend to far outweigh the problems prevented by the procedure.
4) Episiotomy – This procedure, which consists of cutting the vaginal opening to prevent tearing, is performed prior to natural labor. While tearing can be uncomfortable, the problems caused by severing the muscles around the lower vaginal wall are much more serious.
5) Angioplasty – Doctors use tiny balloons and stents to unclog arteries. However, these procedures have not been found to prevent long-term risk of heart attack and death in the majority of patients.
6) Heartburn Surgery – This procedure, nissen fundoplication, is performed to prevent acid reflux by correcting the valve function of the esophagus. However, it has been documented that this procedure cannot fix the problem without important lifestyle and diet changes.
Often, doctors and patients fail to consider safer and less invasive alternatives to surgery.
Doctors and their patients view surgery as a quick fix. Despite the existence of many other, less invasive options, patients continue to choose surgery over and over again. In most cases, surgeries improve the overall well-being of the patient, but sometimes surgery is just a bandaid for the real problem.
In a number of instances, surgery could be prevented if patients would simply make lifestyle changes – better diet and exercise. Other times, creating and maintaining a regimen of appropriate medication can reduce the need for surgery.
Every day I see the dangers associated with surgery. If you are considering surgery, make sure you evaluate all of your options and make the best decision you can.
If you or a loved one was a victim of medical malpractice. Call me right away 1 (800) 556-4769. I can help you get the compensation you deserve.
As your Ohio medical malpractice lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For 33 years, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio.” You can reach Tim by email at tmisny@misnylaw.com or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.
