No matter how routine the procedure, surgery is always somewhat frightening for the person having it and those who care about him or her. When people undergo surgery, they trust they are putting themselves in the hands of skilled doctors and hospital staff. When a physician makes a serious surgical error, that trust is broken. The individual may carry physical, psychological and emotional scars for the rest of his or her life because of someone’s mistake or inattention. In these instances, it is important to consult with a surgical error attorney at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP to determine if the healthcare provider violated the standard of care.
What Types of Actions Constitute Surgical Error?
Just because a surgery negatively affected someone’s health or well-being does not necessarily mean that it was surgical error. Specific examples of surgical error that may constitute a violation of the standard of care include the following:
- Performing the wrong procedure - In this type of surgical error, the surgery performed on the patient is not the one he or she was supposed to receive, and this is often the result of a failure to review records properly.
- Performing surgery on the wrong body part - There have been instances in which a doctor amputates the incorrect limb or performs a procedure on the wrong body part. This type of surgical error is obviously often devastating for the patient.
- Scalpel errors - Performing surgery is a precise craft, and just a small slip of the hand can cause the scalpel to damage organs or nerves.
- Errors related to anesthesia - An anesthetic overdose can affect numerous body systems and even cause death, making this a very serious type of surgical error.
- Leaving instruments or other foreign objects inside the body - Scalpels, gauze and other objects left inside the patient inadvertently, which can pose health risks and may make it necessary to perform another surgery to remove the items and repair any damage to tissue or organs.
Because even the most minor of surgeries carry with them some element of risk, it can be hard to know whether injuries were the result of a preventable surgical error on the part of the physician, anesthesiologist, nursing staff or other medical personnel. A surgical error attorney can help you assess the situation and decide whether you have a valid cause of action. The Philadelphia surgical error lawyers at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP have experience in this area, offer free initial consultations and can represent you in a surgical error lawsuit.
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If you have been seriously injured in the state of Pennsylvania by the negligence of another and if you have questions or concerns about your legal rights, please don't hesitate to call. Our Pennsylvania injury attorneys are available 24 hours a day to speak with you, and we welcome all calls at no charge. Contact us today at 215-268-6623.
