Medical malpractice can happen in any department of a hospital, including the operating room (OR). While most surgeons are careful, some may make mistakes that can harm a patient, which is possibly a worrying statement. Research shows that surgery is the second most common reason for medical malpractice lawsuits.
This guide discusses three mistakes that can occur in the OR:
Unnecessary surgeries
Not all medical conditions require surgery, as other treatment options can be beneficial, and in some cases, the surgery won’t result in significant changes in the patient.
However, some surgeons still perform surgery on patients with these conditions because it’s how they have always done things or the hospital encourages them to do so for financial gain.
Wrong-site/person/procedure surgery
Inadequate patient assessment, miscommunication among teams or departments, poor care planning, performing multiple procedures in a single operation and inadequate medical record review can lead to wrong-site surgery. An example is operating on the wrong side or level of an organ. This leads to more pain and suffering as the patient will still go through the correct procedure again.
Further, poor scheduling may take the wrong person to the OR, or the right one, but the surgeon may perform a procedure meant for another person, which means they may operate on the wrong body part.
Wrong or inappropriate use of instruments
Surgical instruments are crucial and should be used for dedicated purposes. The use of an incorrect, malfunctioning or not well-sterilized instrument can injure a patient, increase operative time, and cause an infection.
Surgical errors are dangerous as they can lead to long-term complications or death. If you or your loved one has experienced this medical malpractice type, getting experienced legal guidance can help you fight for your rights.