Going under the knife, for many people, is one of the most stress-inducing medical procedures available. From routine procedures to life-saving medical interventions, surgery can have immeasurable benefits. But, as a startling number of people know all too well, it also carries significant risks. In many cases, simple errors during the surgery can quickly lead to life-changing – and in some cases life-threatening – complications.
Studies show that as many as 4,000 surgery patients suffer as a result of avoidable mistakes during surgery every year. The vast majority of these errors are what medical experts call never events,” meaning that they should never happen when doctors are providing the appropriate standard of care.
Most Common Types of Surgical Errors
When these never events” and other surgical errors occur, patients who suffer can seek financial compensation through a claim for medical malpractice. In a surgical malpractice claim, you need to be able to prove not only that your surgeon or another medical professional made an error, but that the error was one that other doctors would not have made under the circumstances. At Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C., we professionally experienced in proving surgical malpractice and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims of malpractice across New York City.
Some of the surgical malpractice claims we most frequently see include:
- Anesthesia Errors – From administering the wrong anesthetic to supplying too little (or too much) anesthesia during a patient’s procedure, anesthesia errors can have terrible consequences.
- Leaving Foreign Objects in Patients – The same study we mentioned above found that surgeons leave foreign objects, such as sponges or towels, inside of their patients an average of 39 times each week.
- Performing a Surgical Procedure on the Wrong Patient (Wrong-Patient Surgery) – While this sounds like an extreme example of malpractice, it happens as many as 20 times a week. Due to administration errors, poor communication, and other issues, surgeons perform procedures on the wrong patients with alarming frequency.
- Performing a Surgical Procedure on the Wrong Body Part (Wrong-Site Surgery) – This too is a never event” that occurs as frequently as 20 times each and every week. Examples may include performing the wrong procedure, or operating on the patient’s left side when the procedure should have been performed on their right side.
- Causing Nerve Damage and Other Errors – Whether due to inadequate training, fatigue, simply making a mistake, or even operating while under the influence of alcohol, errors that cause patients physical harm can give rise to claims for medical malpractice.
Speak with a Surgical Malpractice Attorney at New York City’s Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C.
If you or a loved one has suffered as a result of an error during surgery, the attorneys at Schwartzapfel® Lawyers P.C. are here to help you fight for maximum compensation. To put our knowledge and experience to work for you, contact us online or call 1-877-737-4806 to schedule your free consultation today.
