Wrong-site surgery occurs when the surgeon operates on the wrong body part, resulting in the patient requiring additional surgery, taking on financial debt to help them heal from the negligent operation, and developing emotional trauma from the ordeal. A medical malpractice attorney can help you pursue justice by pursuing a malpractice case against the professional who injured you.
How Does Wrong-Site Surgery Occur?
Wrong-site surgery is a preventable medical error in which a surgeon operates on the wrong part of the body, performs the wrong procedure, or operates on the wrong patient entirely. This type of incident is considered a severe act of negligence because it can cause major physical harm and emotional distress for patients and families. Although it is rare, these types of errors often happen because of:
- Communication problems between members of the surgical or medical team. Important details about the patient, procedure, or surgical site may be misunderstood or even lost during handoffs between staff. For example, if a patient has a similar last name to another surgical patient and the hospital is understaffed, the wrong patient may be taken in for the other’s surgery.
- Mistakes in paperwork or labeling. For example, medical records may contain incorrect information, imaging reports may be mislabeled, or other important patient forms may be incomplete. These documentation errors can lead to incorrect decisions being made during surgery.
- Emergencies. In urgent situations where the patient requires immediate surgery to survive, healthcare workers may need to act quickly, increasing the likelihood that important steps are overlooked.
Failure to Follow Established Safety Procedures
Surgical teams are expected to follow strict protocols, starting with pre-procedure patient identification verification. This is when the surgical team confirms the patient’s identity by checking details such as name, date of birth, and medical record number against the wristband, consent form, and medical records to ensure the correct patient is undergoing the correct procedure at the correct site.
The second step is site marking, which requires the surgeon to physically mark the exact surgical site on the patient’s body, typically while the patient can confirm. The “time-out” is a final pause right before surgery begins, during which the entire team stops what they are doing and verbally confirms the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site. A simple missed step in the safety process leads directly to a wrong-site surgery.
Doctors, nurses, and other staff are all responsible for following these safety steps. When professionals fail to uphold the standard of care, injured patients may be eligible to file a lawsuit against them for causing harm.
Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Hanover Advocating for Your Rights
Marzella & Associates knows the grief that can afflict victims after experiencing medical trauma. Our goal is to help you navigate your entire case so you can work toward financial recovery for your pain and financial losses. Contact us today by calling 717-234-7828 or through our online contact form. Our firm offers free consultations to new clients living in Hanover, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and surrounding cities in Pennsylvania.