Surgery is meant to correct an existing health problem, not create a new one. When medical staff fail to follow the proper steps during surgery, patients may develop new health issues or see their current illness get worse.
Something as small as not positioning a patient properly during surgery can cause serious nerve injuries, while failing to control bleeding can have fatal results. It’s important that medical teams understand and execute safety standards when performing surgery.
Delayed Surgery — When surgery is delayed, patients often experience worsening symptoms that can have a longer impact on their health. Patients may also face longer recovery times and have a higher risk of complications during surgery.
Failure to Control Bleeding — While some blood loss is expected during a surgery, it’s crucial that medical staff closely monitor the situation. Staff must monitor for blood pressure drops or heart rate spikes. Controlling the bleeding helps prevent the patient from going into shock or needing a transfusion.
Improper Positioning — How a patient is positioned during surgery can be the difference between a comfortable recovery and a painful one. Nerve damage, limb pain, and bedsores can all be caused by a patient not being properly positioned while undergoing surgery.
Infections — Patients undergoing surgery are at higher risk of infection. That’s especially true if medical staff ignore proper cleaning standards or if a doctor doesn’t prescribe the correct antibiotics or dosage. If an infection is bad enough, it may cause sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
Laparoscopic or Robotic Errors — Technology is a wonderful advancement in the medical world. But it’s critical that it be used safely and that it not put patients at risk. Mistakes can cause injuries to organs and other parts of the body, which can be life-threatening.
Leaving Objects Inside a Patient — It might sound crazy, but in rare cases, patients can have items left inside their bodies following a surgery. Something as small as a missed bandage being left behind can cause a long-term injury and require the patient to be opened up again.
Wrong Patient/Procedure/Surgery Site — Communication mistakes are a danger in any surgery, but are especially concerning when they result in the wrong patient being operated on or the wrong surgery being performed. It’s an inexcusable mistake that can result in a life-changing injury to a patient.
Surgical mistakes can be made without a patient or their family knowing about them until it’s too late. Not knowing what went wrong and why leaves victims feeling alone and afraid of what will happen next, all while dealing with the emotional and physical pain the mistake caused.
It’s important to know that you’re not alone. The team at Weisser Law knows how to fight for you to make it right. We’ll tackle the insurance companies head-on and get you the compensation and security you and your family deserve.
If you’ve been injured by a mistake made during surgery, contact Weisser Law today to schedule your free consultation.