Surgical Errors

At Trustwell Law, our experienced attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach. We cut through the legalese and partner with our clients. We also have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate each case and fight for and with our clients to get the justice they deserve.

Surgical Errors Are Common

Studies indicate that at least 4,000 surgical errors occur in the U.S. each year. One of those studies found that the three surgical specialties that triggered most claims were:

• General surgery (22 percent)
• Orthopedic surgery (17 percent)
• Neurosurgery (8 percent)

The study found that those three kinds of surgeries accounted for almost half the surgery-related claims. It also reported that 29 percent of those injuries were classified as “permanently significant” or worse, and 9 percent resulted in death.

Surgical errors may occur before, during, and after the surgery is performed.

Before surgery, the surgeon must:

• Accurately assess the patient’s needs
  • Fully assess lab results and the patient’s history
  • Is surgery necessary?
  • What surgery is needed?
  • Is the patient physically able to handle the surgery?
• Effectively communicate the need for the surgery to the patient to make sure the patient understands:
  • What the surgery entails
  • The benefits of the surgery
  • The risks of the surgery
  • Any possible alternative treatments available

During surgery, the surgeon must:

• Communicate clearly with all members of the surgical team
• Effectively and accurately perform the surgery

Errors that can (and do) occur during surgery are:

• Operating on the wrong part of the body
• Operating on the wrong side of the body
• Operating on the wrong patient
• Leaving surgical tools or items inside the patient’s body
• Failing to use sterile equipment during the surgery
• Puncturing or damaging an organ or other body part accidentally during the surgery
• Introducing bacteria into the surgical area during surgery or due to improper preparation for surgery

Problems that can arise after surgery include:

• Failing to adequately monitor for and treat infection
• Releasing the patient from the hospital prematurely (before it’s safe for them)
• Failing to make sure the patient understands their situation and how they must take care of themselves and their surgical site (if applicable)
• Failing to communicate to the patient what they can and can’t do while they heal
• Not prescribing appropriate medically necessary medicine(s)

Surgical Error Lawyers

If you or a loved one had surgery and have experienced suffering due to surgical error, contact us.

If we take your case, you will pay us nothing unless we win. We will work with you and use all our resources and expertise to fully investigate your circumstances. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost work, and other measurable consequences from surgical and medical mistakes.

Hospitals and doctors have teams of experienced dedicated lawyers on their side. Shouldn’t you have a team of dedicated experienced lawyers standing with you?