According to a recent study published in Surgery magazine, events that should never occur in surgery (so-called “never events”) actually occur over 4,000 times a year in the United States. These never events — which include performing the wrong procedure, performing surgery on the wrong site and leaving a sponge inside a patient’s body — reportedly happen around 39 times a week.
Errors that are not considered “never events” occur even more frequently — between 44,000 and 98,000 patients are negatively impacted by medical and surgical errors every year, according to the Institute of Medicine. Researchers also believe that the actual number of surgical errors is likely even higher because many events likely go unreported.
Medical Malpractice Or Careless Mistake?
Not every surgical error rises to the level of medical malpractice. Surgical errors can be medical malpractice when the negligent conduct of the surgeon (or other operating room technician) did not adhere to accepted medical standards of care and the substandard care resulted in injury.
Examples of surgical errors that the experienced, qualified team of lawyers at Malone Law can help you with include:
- Wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-patient errors (WSPEs)
- Leaving medical instruments, sponges, gloves or towels inside a patient
- Incorrect or unnecessary incisions
- Anesthesia errors, including too much or too little medication
- Nerve damage caused by surgical negligence
- Brain damage and paralysis
Attorneys Who Are Dedicated To Your Well-Being
Proving that a surgical error amounted to medical malpractice can be difficult for those unfamiliar with medical malpractice law. Getting the necessary information from the hospital or doctor requires experience dealing with bureaucracies, red tape and institutions that are focused on self preservation.
At Malone Law, we understand the complexities involved in proving up a medical negligence case — and we have over half a decade of experience helping clients recover damages for their pain and suffering.
Contact us today to see how we can put our tradition of excellence to work for you — call our Atlanta, Georgia, office at 770-390-7550 or reach us online.
