The most common surgical errors in U.S. hospitals

Going into the hospital for a major medical operation or surgery can be nerve-wracking. While most procedures go according to plan, patients still run the risk of surgical errors when they enter a hospital. Here are some of the more common mistakes that result in legal action from patients in Delaware and throughout the country.

Many surgeries involve taking medication, such as anesthesia. When medical professionals administer the wrong amount of medication, overdoses can occur and cause serious complications or even death. Another common mix-up is receiving the wrong blood in a transfusion. Although this is a rare situation, it is the leading cause of preventable deaths at hospitals.

One of the surgical errors that people often do not consider are problems caused by operating room fires. A 2003 report showed that almost 100 surgical fires occur each year in the United States, with the majority of fires igniting on or even in the patient. There is also the possibility of surgeons operating on the wrong body part or even the wrong patient. While great measures are often taken to prevent this, it still happens from time to time.

There are many other surgical errors that may take place in Delaware hospitals. These can include mixing up tubes, air embolisms, being operated on while awake and unwashed hands. Doctors who do not do their due diligence and dismiss valid medical concerns could also be the cause of serious medical issues or even death. Those seeking recourse after a surgical error or medical malpractice situation should contact a Delaware lawyer.

Source: cheatsheet.com, “Being Operated On While Awake and Other Terrifying Medical Mistakes You Didn’t Know Could Happen”, Liz Holland, April 8, 2018