Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Surgery is sometimes necessary to treat certain health conditions and injuries. It can even help save a patient’s life. However, if surgeons act negligently during the process, patients can suffer serious harm. Common surgical errors include operating on the wrong body part, leaving an instrument inside the body and administering too much or too little anesthesia. In the worst case scenario, these mistakes can kill a patient. If a patient does survive, the patient may still sustain permanent injuries.
The most common causes of surgical errors:
Fatigue
Surgeons often work very long hours. If they do not get adequate rest between shifts, they may become very tired and can’t perform surgeries safely. All surgeries require a surgeon’s complete focus and attention. Unfortunately, if surgeons are fatigued, they may not be able to fully concentrate during a surgery and make mistakes.
Incompetence
Even if surgeons have successfully completed medical school, they still need to undergo frequent training on different surgical procedures. If they do not go through the proper training and overestimate their ability to perform a surgical procedure, they are more likely to make errors.
Poor Communication
It’s critical for surgeons, nurses and other surgical staff to frequently communicate with each other. Otherwise, serious mistakes are more likely to occur. For example, if a nurse forgets to write down a patient’s allergies, the patient may suffer serious harm.
Insufficient Staff
In order for patients to receive the utmost care during surgery, there must be sufficient staff members on board. If there aren’t enough staff, the surgical staff on duty may be overworked and more likely to make mistakes.
Drugs or Alcohol
Unfortunately, some surgeons have performed surgical procedures under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is completely reckless behavior, and there is no excuse for it. Surgeons who are under the influence may not be able to fully focus on a surgical procedure and make errors.
What to Do If You’re the Victim of a Surgical Error
If you have suffered harm during surgery due to negligence, it is important to speak to a medical malpractice lawyer, like one from Ward & Ward Law Firm, as soon as possible. A lawyer can help you pursue a timely medical malpractice claim against the negligent party and look out for your best interests. You deserve justice for what happened to you.
