Michigan patients who undergo surgery are typically informed about the inherent risks of the procedure, and they reasonably expect their doctors and medical teams to be competent, experienced and capable of performing the surgery without error.
Unfortunately, errors occur more frequently than you might expect. Some medical professionals and health care facilities fail to perform surgeries with the degree of reasonable care that similarly trained professionals would exercise, leading to potentially devastating injuries and even death.
More About Surgical Errors
A 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed that 10 percent of all patients who die within 90 days of surgery did so because of preventable surgical errors.
Surgical errors can happen during any kind of surgery, from a routine knee replacement to complicated brain surgery. Some procedures have a higher risk of surgical error, including:
A Caesarean section related to child birth;
- Heart surgery;
- Chest surgery;
- Lasik surgery;
- Gastric bypass surgery;
- Cosmetic surgeries such as face-lifts, nose surgery, liposuction and breast implants.
Injuries that can result from a surgical error include death, paralysis, permanent organ damage, and infections.
Causes of Surgical Error
Surgical errors can occur as a result of poor pre-operative planning or care. Medical professionals should fully evaluate patients’ current health, medical history, use of medications, and family history. And they should make sure surgical procedures are safe, appropriate and in the best interests of patients.
Errors occur during surgery in a variety of ways, such as an incorrect incision; use of unsterile equipment; incorrect application of anesthesia; puncture or perforation of nearby organs; nerve damage; and leaving surgical instruments and sponges in the body.
Post-operative substandard care can lead to infections, septic shock and delays in healing. Nearly one-third of the deaths resulting from preventable surgical errors occurred after initial discharge, according to the Health and Human Services study.
Victim of a Surgical Error? Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys Can Help
The medical malpractice attorneys at Michigan Injury Lawyers know how devastating a surgical error caused by medical malpractice can be for victims and their loved ones. The costs of medical bills and long-term care can be astronomical, and the loss of income can be substantial. Those who lose a spouse, child or other family member may also inherit significant financial burdens that stem from those losses.
The medical malpractice attorneys at Michigan Injury Lawyers can help you obtain compensation as you begin to rebuild your life. Call us at (888) 454-0801 for a free evaluation of your claim. If we don’t win, you won’t pay for our assistance.