If a patient sustains an injury during surgery due to the surgeon’s negligence, there are consequences for the staff and hospital.
Surgeons perform some of the most dangerous and life-threatening work in the medical industry, operating on their patients. Unfortunately, not all surgeons perform their duties with the expected level of care and required of them. Even if a surgical error does not prove fatal, it could mean a lifetime of significant and irreversible injuries. If a patient sustains an injury during surgery due to the surgeon’s negligence, there are consequences for the staff and hospital. Here are some of the most common surgical errors.
Perforation of the Bowel
During a routine colonoscopy or polyp removal, the surgeon may accidentally perforate the patient’s bowel. This laceration can cause bacteria from the bowel to infiltrate the abdominal cavity. This harmful bacteria can cause sepsis, infecting internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys, or liver. If sepsis is not treated quickly, it can cause wrongful death.
Foreign Objects Left in the Body
During surgery, the medical staff uses a variety of tools and instruments to perform surgery adequately. The tools must be extensively counted before, during, and after surgery to ensure that nothing is left behind. Far too often, surgeons leave items such as scalpels, pads, gauze, or clamps in their patients’ bodies. Leaving these objects in a patient causes extreme pain, severe infections, or even death.
Anesthesia Errors
Anesthesia is the most crucial component of a successful surgical procedure. Anesthesia ensures that the patient does not wake up during surgery or feel any pain during the process. If too much anesthesia is administered, the patient may not get enough oxygen, which can cause brain damage and death. Conversely, if an insufficient amount of anesthesia is given, the patient might wake up during the operation and experience extreme pain.
Wrong Site or Wrong Side Surgery
Before making the first incision, surgeons must be positive that they are operating on the correct area of the patient’s body. This may seem like an obvious step, but far too often, patients receive surgery on the wrong side of the body or on the wrong body part. Whether they have operated on a patient’s arm rather than their leg or removed their left kidney instead of their right one, this error is severe and can lead to excruciatingly painful complications.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, or call us at 410-843-3476, for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.