What Are Common Causes of Surgical Errors?
Surgery is stressful because there are always risks. You do, however, expect to receive quality care from your provider. If a member of your care team fails in their duty to attend to your health and safety, you may be entitled to begin a medical malpractice claim.
Learn more about common surgical errors and your legal options.
Most Common Reasons That Surgical Errors Occur
Surgical errors can result from numerous factors, including provider negligence. The following are the most frequent reasons patients are harmed during surgery.
Communication Errors
Miscommunication can lead to serious “never events,” such as operating on the wrong site or the wrong patient.
Ineffective communication practices can break the chain of information among your care team. Problems ranging from unclear instructions to breakdowns in transfer protocols can result in catastrophic injuries for patients.
Failure to Follow Surgical Safety Procedures
Before any surgical procedure, providers must follow surgical checklists to ensure that everything is in order. Failing to follow safety protocols, including standard practices like marking the surgical site, can lead to a variety of surgical errors.
Inadequate Preoperative Planning
Providers must review patient histories and perform tests to ensure the patient is healthy enough for a scheduled operation. Without proper planning, avoidable complications such as allergic reactions can occur. Lack of proper preparation can lead to delays during the procedure, including equipment issues that can be dangerous to the patient.
Systemic Issues
The hospital or clinic where you receive surgery could be understaffed, or it could have hired people who don’t have the necessary experience or training. There may also be problems with outdated equipment or protocols that don’t provide the full protection patients need. Any of these systemic issues can lead to preventable injuries.
Impairment
Surgeons or other care team members who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol could seriously harm patients. They are liable for the losses they cause, but the facility that employs them could also be responsible if it failed to conduct a background check or knew that a provider’s use of substances posed a threat to patient safety.
Legal Options After Suffering a Surgical Error
If you sustained an injury because of a medical provider’s negligence, your next step may be to pursue a medical malpractice claim. These are similar to other personal injury cases, but there are some differences. For one thing, you must demonstrate that the medical provider did not offer the accepted standard of care.
This typically goes beyond the reasonable person standard required in other types of claims. It involves presenting evidence that shows another professional would not have made the same error. You may need to reach out to medical experts who can corroborate your claim of malpractice.
Additionally, determining who may be responsible for your losses might not be simple. While a person who was actively negligent may be liable, the facility or their employer could be, too.
To address all of these issues, consider working with an experienced attorney. With legal assistance, you can focus on healing from your injuries while the attorney manages the rest.
Contact Our Friendswood Medical Malpractice Lawyers at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Medical malpractice claims are complex legal proceedings that should not be pursued without legal representation. You could end up with a smaller settlement than you deserve, or you might walk away without any compensation at all. By hiring an attorney, you have an advocate ready to fight for your rights.
For more information about your rights and legal options contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer at The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers to get a free initial consultation today. We have offices in Friendswood and Galveston, Texas:
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Galveston Office
2101 Mechanic St. Suite 253
Galveston, TX 77550
(409) 207-9299
The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd Personal Injury Lawyers – Friendswood Office
312 S. Friendswood Dr.
Friendswood, TX 77546
281-992-8633
