Which Surgical Errors Often Lead To Medical Malpractice?

Unfortunately, medical malpractice cases are still relevant to this day. Many doctors show negligence in their work and cause errors that permanently affect the lives of their patients. Surgical errors are some of the most common blunders by doctors. If the medical professional could have avoided the mistake by being careful, they are liable for the patient’s injuries. 

If a doctor injured you in the process of getting treated by them, a Miami medical malpractice attorney could help you understand what your rights are and determine your next steps. 

Common surgical errors that lead to medical malpractice

1. Wrong-site surgery. 

Wrong-site surgery refers to the mistake of performing the surgery at a body part other than the affected area. For example, the patient may need their left leg amputated, but the doctor amputates their right leg. In fact, there have been various real cases like this one. Wrong-site surgery can ruin a person’s life. 

2. Lack of experience. 

Sometimes due to a lack of doctors in the hospital, surgical tasks are often handed over to inexperienced doctors. This mainly happens in the case of an emergency. Surgery of the human body is no child’s play. If the surgeon does not have at least a few years of experience in the field, they are bound to make mistakes. 

3. Wrong patient surgery. 

Sometimes due to misplacement of medical papers, the doctor may perform one patient’s surgery on another. This happens when the hospital staff is negligent and swaps patient charts. A patient receiving unnecessary treatment may experience further complications because of it. 

4. Usage of unsanitary instruments. 

Various surgical instruments are used during surgery. The hospital must make sure that the surgery room and instruments used on the patient are completely sanitized and free of harmful bacteria. Usage of unsanitary products to perform surgery can be highly dangerous, in some cases, even deadly. 

5. Drugs/alcohol. 

It may sound untrue, but some doctors use drugs and alcohol to cope with the stress of performing surgery, even the most experienced ones. Drugs and alcohol can impair a person’s decision-making ability, which is dangerous in the surgery room. 

6. Damage to internal organs. 

Surgery requires the usage of a scalpel and other tools that need to be handled carefully. If the surgeon accidentally injuries a nearby organ while performing the surgery, it can lead to life-altering changes or even death. 

Doctors are humans, just like all of us, but their work requires them to be more careful because they handle real human lives. If you suffered because of the negligence of a doctor, an attorney could help.