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Going in for a surgical operation requires a significant amount of trust. Not only are you trusting that the operation will help you resolve the symptoms you are experiencing, but even more significantly, you are trusting that the medical professionals facilitating your surgery will perform it to the best of their abilities.

As disheartening as it is to hear, while you may trust your surgical team to perform your surgery with no issues, you might still face unforeseen life-altering surgical errors that result in devastating consequences because of their actions. The compassionate legal team at Lowenthal & Abrams is here to help you through this challenging time and advocate for you as you pursue a claim.

What Is a Surgical Error?

While you might be led to believe that you are signing over your rights when you sign a consent form before your surgery, it is essential to note that consent forms are merely forms indicating that you understand the risks associated with your procedure, not that you are exposing yourself to unnecessary risks. Consent forms are not consenting for your medical provider to take risks but rather for them to follow standard procedures for medical care. This is where surgical errors come into play.

Surgical errors arise when medical providers fail to abide by the appropriate medical and surgical procedures to ensure patient safety. While some deviations from the procedure might be necessary in specific cases, it is more often that deviations from standard surgical procedures have life-altering consequences. Although surgical errors might not immediately manifest or even be detected until much later, there is a high chance that should they be left untreated, you could risk worsening your existing conditions or even creating new ones.

What Are the Most Common Types of Surgical Errors?

With over 4,000 surgical errors occurring each year, you are probably wondering what the most common types are:

Foreign Objects

One of the most common surgical errors is retaining foreign bodies. Put simply, this error occurs when an object is left behind inside a patient after a procedure has been completed. Sponges are one of the most common foreign bodies left in the body after surgery, especially in the abdomen and pelvis.

Lack of Monitoring

Another surgical error is the lack of proper monitoring, which occurs when a medical professional is not devoting their full attention to a patient or their vital signs during a procedure. This is more typically seen with nurses or anesthesiologists rather than surgeons.

Wrong Site

Although seemingly unthinkable, another surgical error is a wrong site, wrong procedure, or wrong patient error. Just as the name implies, on occasion, the wrong procedure is completed, or the wrong patient is operated on. These types of mistakes should never occur but are often due to a lack of communication, attention to detail, or a misdiagnosis from the medical team.

Our Experienced Attorneys Could Help You Pursue a Claim When You Have Been Hurt by a Surgical Error

The consequences of surgical errors vary by type, and several consequences can result from these serious errors. When a surgical error has hurt you and it has led to devastating consequences, it is crucial to reach out to our skilled attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams for help.

You do not need to go through the claims process alone. Our legal team is here to advocate for you. Call today for a consultation meeting.