While the immune system can deal with many ailments on its own, this isn’t always the case. There are occasions where medical intervention may be required, such as surgery.
There is always a risk in any surgery, but surgeons and medical institutions have a legal duty to minimize them. The risk of surgery not only exists during the procedure, but during post-operative care. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) can occur, and they sometimes develop due to negligence. What causes SSIs?
Poor hygiene practices
An operating theater must be sterilized. This means that all possible steps must be taken to eliminate harmful germs from the area. Surgeons must be clean and wear protective equipment, such as gloves and facemasks. Also, any surgical equipment to be used during the operation must be sterilized.
Post-operative care
As mentioned, the risks of surgery don’t end after the procedure has concluded. Post-operative care is arguably as important as the procedure itself. The wound must be cleaned and the patient should be kept in a sterilized area. If doctors feel that the patient is fit to go home, they must provide them with information on how to care for the wound, and ordinarily need to prescribe medications that reduce the risk of infection.
A failure to stick to the practices mentioned above could be considered negligence if a patient suffers as a result of this failure. If your condition was worsened by post-op complications related to surgery or substandard hospital treatment, you may be entitled to hold the medical institution to account for malpractice. Seek legal guidance to find out more about your options.