Surgical errors come in different forms, but all can be deadly

Anytime Delaware residents require an operation, they are usually told what will happen and what kinds of issues could arise during the procedure. Patients are often willing to accept the ordinary risks in order to receive the benefits that are projected. However, sometimes things go wrong during a surgery that are unexpected. Surgical errors come in many different forms, but all of them could cost a patient his or her life.

Some mistakes can occur regardless of whether every other aspect of the surgery is handled correctly. If instruments are not properly sanitized, a patient can contract a deadly infection. The surgeon can cut or nick a vein, nerve or artery, which can cause excessive bleeding or permanent nerve damage. In some cases, a surgical instrument, surgical sponge or other foreign object could be left inside the patient, which could understandably wreak havoc on a person’s body.

Other errors have the tendency to doom a patient from the start. Hospitals, surgeons and their surgical teams must make sure that they have the right patient before beginning a procedure. Further, if the surgery is necessary, everyone involved should verify what type of operation is being performed and on what part of the body.

Any of these surgical errors could cause unnecessary harm, permanent injury or death to a Delaware resident. When a patient survives a surgical mistake, additional surgeries and other medical care to correct the problem may be required, causing the victim to incur additional monetary and non-monetary damages. If it is discovered that surgical protocols were somehow ignored or not correctly followed, a medical malpractice claim might be in order.