Surgical procedures and technology have advanced rapidly in recent decades. At one point in time, all surgical procedures would have been considered highly risky. While surgery still poses risks today, these risks can be much better managed.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean to say that surgery cannot go wrong and that highly trained surgeons don’t make mistakes. What types of surgical errors may amount to malpractice?
Errors in the early stages
All surgical procedures start with careful planning. The surgical team must identify the appropriate type of procedure and the correct surgical site, as well as take into account any potential risks, such as a patient with high blood pressure or other complications. Failing to plan properly can result in a surgeon operating on the wrong body part or making an error that should not have been made in the first place.
A key part of the surgical process is anesthesia. The appropriate amount of anesthetic must be administered in relation to the patient’s unique characteristics, the length of the procedure and other relevant factors. A high or low dosage of anesthesia can cause serious complications and it can even be fatal.
Errors in the latter stages
While the planning stages and surgical procedure are crucial, so too is post-operative care. Medical teams must take every possible step to reduce the risk of infections and ensure that the patient has the best possible chance of a full recovery. A patient should not be checked out of the hospital if the risk is too high. Hospitals have to manage patient loads, but this should never come at the expense of patient safety.
Surgeons and medical terms owe you a legal duty of care. If you have suffered injuries after an operation and believe negligence was a factor, then you may be entitled to financial compensation under a medical malpractice claim.
