Surgeons are trained extensively to perform delicate medical procedures on people who require immediate or life-threatening care. Undergoing surgery can be very stressful for a patient. Knowing a surgeon has the knowledge and experience to care for them can ease a patient’s tension. However, a surgeon could make a wrong-site surgery, which is a medical mistake that can have life-altering consequences for patients.
A wrong-site surgery is a type of medical error that involves performing a surgery on the wrong part of the body, such as the wrong limb or organ. Here is what you should know:
How do wrong-site surgeries happen?
Wrong-site surgeries are preventable surgical errors. There are several ways wrong-site surgeries happen, including:
- Confusing medical charts and reports
- Inadequate training
- Miscommunication with medical staff
- Failure to verify patient identity
- Failing to communicate with a patient
- Distractions, fatigue and stress
- Failing to mark incisions
A wrong-site surgery could happen because of a mistake at any stage of the surgical process, including pre-operation and the procedure.
What are the dangers of a wrong-site surgery?
Every wrong-site surgery accident is unique. Patients can face various medical dangers after a wrong-site surgery. For example, a procedure to remove a damaged eye could result in a patient losing their vision. Or, a mistake during a spinal cord surgery could lead to long-term pain or paralysis.
A patient who has suffered from a wrong-site surgery accident can experience pain, emotional turmoil, reduced quality of life and the need for additional surgeries to correct a mistake.
Professional legal guidance is here to help patients recover compensation after a wrong-site surgery accident.