5 common types of surgical errors

Many people have to undergo surgeries to resolve medical conditions. These patients put their trust in doctors, nurses and physicians to perform at a standard level of care. However, when a physician neglects their duties, they put their patients at risk of injuries.

There are many types of surgical errors. Here are a few:

1. Retained foreign objects

A retained foreign object occurs when a surgeon or nurse leaves a surgical tool in the body after a procedure, which can cause serious injuries to the patient. An object can include sponges, padding, scalpels or clamps for example. A foreign object is often left behind in the body as a result of mismanagement, distraction or negligence.

2. Wrong-side surgery

A patient may be scheduled to undergo surgery on one side of their body. If a physician neglects to check the details of the surgery, they may operate on the wrong side of the body. As a result, the patient may suffer from serious injuries and still retain their other medical condition that requires surgery.

3. Wrong-patient surgery

A patient’s chart could be swapped with another patient. As a result, a patient could be wrongly operated on because of the swapped charts. This is often called a wrong-patient surgery.

4. Lack of skill

Surgeries require intensive training and experience. If a surgeon lacks the skills to perform a specific operation, they may be putting a patient’s life at risk. Even if a surgery is successful, the lack of knowledge to perform the surgery well could have long-term health consequences.

5. Anesthesia errors

Anesthesia is often used during surgeries. However, anesthesia is a delicate substance that, when overused, could have fatal consequences for a patient.

Victims of surgical errors can pursue liable parties for damages. Legal guidance can help patients recover from their injuries and losses.