Surgical Errors

Classified as “never events,” surgical errors should never happen. Unfortunately, between 1990 and 2000, approximately 10,000 never events occurred and accounted for $1.3 million in medical malpractice payouts1. However, the actual incidence is likely to be much higher, as many events go unreported. For example, if an item is left behind after surgery, it usually is only discovered when, or if, it causes post-surgical complications.

The National Quality Forum has established a list of Serious Reportable Events, or “never events”, that may occur during surgical or invasive procedures.

What are Surgical Errors?

• Wrong Side Procedures are performed on the wrong side of the body or wrong extremity. An example would be having an operation done on the left foot instead of the right.
• Wrong Patient Procedures are surgeries that were performed on one patient that was intended for another. A notable case is one patient that underwent an invasive cardiac procedure meant for another patent with a similar name.
• Wrong Level Procedures are performed on the correct side of the body but occur on the wrong level of a patient’s body.
• Wrong Procedures are procedures mistakenly performed on a patient.
• Retained Equipment is the error of leaving surgical tools or other foreign objects like surgical sponges or towels inside the body at the end of the procedure.
• Providing Inadequate Postoperative Care can lead to complications or injuries as a result of the lack of care, such as prolonged recovery, infections, pain, or even death.
• Administering Incorrect Anesthesia Amounts or using the wrong medication can lead to surgical complications like the patient being conscious during the surgical procedure.

Let Us Represent You

When undergoing surgery or invasive procedure, patients are putting their lives in the hands of their surgeon. If you have been a victim of a surgical error, you should contact a surgical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible, as there is a limited time frame for filing a lawsuit. Waiting too long can result in the patient losing their opportunity for a just resolution.

Burch, Porter & Johnson is your surgical errors attorney in Memphis and has a team of expert medical malpractice lawyers ready to help you resolve your medical malpractice case. We have successfully represented plaintiffs for claims, including surgical negligence, surgical errors and more. In fact, BPJ Law represented the plaintiff for one of the largest medical malpractice settlements in Tennessee history, Palanki v. Vanderbilt (2012). We serve the areas of Memphis, western Tennessee, eastern Arkansas, and northern Mississippi.

Contact us today if you need legal representation for a surgical error you or a loved one are enduring.

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