Medical malpractice victims may need help with the physical, financial and emotional aftermath of the harm they have suffered because of medical provider negligence. For that reason, they should be familiar with the common types of surgical errors and how victims can receive the help they need.
Protections for victims of surgical errors
Surgeons, nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals can all be liable for medical malpractice if their negligent actions cause injuries or death to the victims. Through a personal injury claim for damages, they may be liable for the harm victims of surgical errors suffer including:
- Retained foreign objects: studies show that at least 4,000 victims a year have a medical instrument left inside their body following surgery. Foreign objects left in the victim’s body can include surgical sponges, clamps, scalpels and scissors.
- Infections: Approximately 1 in 20 hospitalized patients suffer from an infection during their hospital stay. Poor hygiene on the part of the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff can lead to infections that claim the lives of nearly 100,000 victims each year.
- Wrong-site surgery: wrong-site surgery can include performing the wrong operation on the wrong patient or performing on the wrong site of the patient’s body.
- Medication errors: doctors and nurses may prescribe or administer the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of a medication. They may also prescribe medications that have a bad reaction for the victim if their medication history is not carefully reviewed.
- Falls: when victims are not properly secured during a surgical procedure, falls can occur during the procedure that can injure the victim.
Medical malpractice is the last thing any victim wants when they go in for a medical procedure. Legal protections are in place to help victims with their damages and hold those responsible accountable.