Did you know experts estimate more than 250,000 people die each year due to surgical errors? Surgical errors stem from a number of factors, including systematic issues amongst hospital staff, physician error, contaminated medical devices, and issues during pre-operative or post-operative care.
Studies indicate almost 75% of surgical errors happen during the surgery, with the other injuries happening during pre-operative or post-operative care. The following surgical errors are the most commonly encountered in medical malpractice cases:
- Leaving objects in the patient’s body
- Nerve damage
- Punctured organs
- Infections
- Anesthesia failures or miscalculations resulting in a lack of oxygen and leading to brain damage or death.
Symptoms of surgical error often includes intense pain at the surgical site, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, and redness or swelling near surgical wounds or ports. Sadly, some patients mistake these symptoms as typical post-op complications and do not seek proper medical care. Even with treatment, surgical errors can still lead to severe illness, disease, infection and death.
If you experience any of the symptoms noted above seek immediate medical assistance. If you or someone you love was seriously injured or died due to a surgical error you should have a knowledgeable and effective personal injury attorney by your side to help you receive compensation. Click here to learn more about pursing a medical malpractice claim.