Wrong Site Surgeries
Surgical Errors and Mistakes in Los Angeles
A wrong site surgery is a type of surgical malpractice wherein surgery is performed on the wrong part or the wrong side of the body. This may have detrimental effects to a patient, possibly leading to disability, the need for a second surgical procedure, or even wrongful death. If you or someone you know has suffered from a wrong site surgery in a Los Angeles hospital, please do not hesitate to contact Pacific Attorney Group today.
About Surgical Errors and Wrong Site Surgery
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) there were well over 50 million surgical procedures performed in the U.S. alone in the year 2007. This number may only increase as our population grows and as more people undergo elective procedures. With any surgery, there is an inherent risk of injury even when performed properly and by an experienced surgeon. Unfortunately, this risk increases greatly and may result in serious injury or even death if medical malpractice or negligence is involved. Wrong site surgeries are a very serious form of surgical malpractice.
How do wrong site surgeries occur? Following are some potential reasons that a procedure may be performed on the wrong part or side of the body:
- Lack of communication between the surgeon and other hospital staff.
- Incorrect marking of the surgical site
- Unusual physical characteristics of the patient, such as morbid obesity or a physical deformity
- Time constraints to start or complete the surgery
- Multiple surgeons involved in one case
- Multiple surgical procedures performed at once
- Incomplete patient assessment, including incomplete or negligent preoperative care
- Organizational or staffing issues
Contact a Los Angeles Malpractice Lawyer Today
Doctors are held to a higher standard of responsibility and care. They work in a specialized profession and therefore must always exercise the highest level of care for their patients. When this does not occur, a wrong site surgery may be performed. This may be grounds for a malpractice claim or lawsuit, and it is important that you understand your rights and options in this regard.
If you or someone you know was the victim of a wrong site surgery, contact a Los Angeles surgical error lawyer at our firm today.