Risks With Surgical Procedures

While there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, there are some forms of surgical mistakes that are inexcusable. Unfortunately, some mistakes can have a lifelong impact on a patient. If you are a resident of Philadelphia who is the victim of medical malpractice, the team of attorneys at Gilman & Bedigian is standing by to help you obtain the justice you deserve. 

Common Types of Surgical Mistakes

While there are countless forms of surgical errors that can occur during a patient’s surgical procedure, some of the most common forms of surgical mistakes include: 

Anesthesia Errors

One of the most common–and most serious–surgical errors occurs when a mistake is made in the dosing of anesthesia. Anesthesia must be administered at just the right dosage. If too much anesthesia is administered to a patient, serious complications can occur, including brain damage and even death. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if too little anesthesia is administered, a person can wake up during surgery. 

Instruments Left in a Patient’s Body

Leaving an instrument in a patient sounds like something that would happen once in a blue moon. In actuality, though, complications arising from a foreign object being left in a patient’s body occurs at an alarmingly high rate. When a foreign object is left in a person’s body, the body’s natural response is to fight the foreign object, as the body recognizes that the object should not be there. From surgical tools like a scalpel or forceps to a common surgical sponge, complications that arise from leaving a foreign object in a patient’s body can be extremely dangerous, or even life-threatening. 

Operating on the Wrong Part of the Body

Operating on the wrong part of the body is a form of surgical error that should never occur. The consequences stemming from operating on the wrong part of the body can be devastating–if a doctor performing a kidney transplant removed a patient’s healthy kidney rather than the failing organ, for example, the patient can be left in dire straights. 

Failure to Diagnose a Dangerous Medical Condition

Oftentimes, a surgeon will begin an operation for a routine or known medical procedure and end up discovering a dangerous medical condition that requires immediate attention. Say, for example, that a surgeon begins a procedure to remove a polyp in a person’s colon, but instead discovers an unexpected mass in the abdomen. If the doctor did not take the appropriate measures to remove and biopsy the mass during the surgical procedure, the mass could continue to grow and, if cancerous, could spread to other parts of the body. 

Injured Due to a Surgical Error? Contact Us Today

If you underwent a surgical procedure and believe that an error occurred during surgery, it’s critical to speak with a seasoned medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. Our team, which includes a staff physician, is dedicated to helping you obtain the compensation you deserve after a surgical error which never should have occurred. To speak with a member of our legal team, fill out an online case evaluation form or call (800) 529-6162 today.