It may seem unimaginable that a surgeon can make a mistake as severe as operating on the wrong part or side of the body. Unfortunately, this is exactly what happens to thousands of patients each year due to medical malpractice. If you discover that a Minnesota surgeon has committed this error during your or a loved one’s scheduled operation, find out how a Minneapolis surgical errors attorney can help you seek justice.
What Is Wrong-Site Surgery?
Wrong-site surgery refers to a medical error where a surgeon operates in the incorrect area – leading to serious ramifications such as additional (revision) surgeries, unnecessary scarring or disfigurement, health consequences, and emotional trauma.
“Wrong-site surgery” can refer to multiple surgical errors, including:
- Wrong body part
- Wrong side of the body
- Wrong procedure
- Wrong patient
Wrong-site surgery can have disastrous effects, including a patient failing to receive the actual operation he or she needs. This serious example of medical malpractice can always be prevented – there is no excuse for wrong-site surgical mix-ups.
How Does Wrong-Site Surgery Happen?
Surgical errors, including wrong-site procedures, point to one or more failings to uphold the medical standards of care. There are systems and protocols in place for preventing just such mishaps. The hospital or surgical center and all of its staff members should be aware of these requirements and fulfill them prior to each and every procedure.
Common causes of wrong-site surgeries in Minnesota include:
- Failing to mark the correct surgical site on the patient’s body
- Failing to confirm the patient, procedure and surgical site beforehand
- Issues with communication between the surgeon and surgical staff
- Inadequate surgical or patient care planning
- Skipped steps, such as failing to read surgical charts or schedules
- Failing to take a mandatory “time-out” for confirmation before incision
- A busy, fatigued, distracted or overworked surgeon
- Mixing up patient files
Wrong-site surgery is an entirely preventable medical error. Operations are serious and invasive procedures that deserve due care and attention to detail by all involved. If routines are not properly adhered to or the facility is disorganized, these issues increase the odds of wrong-site and wrong-patient surgical errors.
What Are Your Rights After a Wrong-Site Surgery?
Wrong-site surgery is referred to in the medical industry as a “never event,” meaning it should never happen at a properly functioning health care facility. If you are a victim of wrong-site surgery in Minnesota, you have legal rights. Protect them with help and advocacy from an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Minneapolis, MN.
You may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim against the individual surgeon or the health care center. This can hold the at-fault party accountable for the harm that you suffered due to the traumatic mix-up. It could also result in financial compensation for your related losses, including injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
How Can a Medical Malpractice Attorney Help You?
Medical malpractice is a serious example of professional negligence that can interfere with a patient’s care, treatment and recovery – as well as cause injuries, in many cases. A medical malpractice attorney in Minneapolis can help you seek justice and fair financial compensation if you are a victim of wrong-site surgery. The right attorney can help you understand your legal options after investigating your case.
You can count on an attorney to gather evidence, build a compelling claim against a health care provider and handle the legal legwork of your case for you. To begin a wrong-site surgery case, contact Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC to request a free initial consultation.