When a patient needs surgery, the stress and worry about the medical condition warranting the surgery should not include worrying about whether or not the surgeon or other medical professional will make a medical error that could cost the patient their life. Unfortunately, surgical errors happen far too frequently and too many families end up grieving the loss of their loved ones.
The most common types of surgical errors are referred to as “never events.” This is because they should never occur. In fact, these never events occur more than 4,000 times per year in operating rooms all across the country. If your loved one suffered injuries because of a surgical error, a North Carolina medical malpractice attorney from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can help.
Surgical Errors
The most common type of surgical error is wrong side surgery. A wrong site error occurs when the surgeon is supposed to operate on one limb but instead operates on the other. This type of error is responsible for 60 percent of all surgical errors that happen each year in the U.S.
Another type of surgical error is wrong site surgery. This is when a surgeon is supposed to operate on one part of the spine but accidentally operates on another part. It is estimated that a wrong site error occurs approximately 20 times each week in operating rooms nationwide.
As hard as it may be to believe, another type of surgical error is a wrong patient error. This type is responsible for five percent of the total number of surgical errors that occur annually, however, it can be one of the most devasting. One of the most common ways a wrong person surgical error can happen is if two patients have the same last name.
Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim
Surgical error victims are often left with many financial, physical, and emotional losses. There are often high medical bills to treat the injury or condition caused by the error. The victim likely needs recovery and rehabilitation, which means a loss of income from being unable to work. There is also the pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, and more. A medical malpractice lawsuit can provide the victim with the financial compensation they deserve.
When a patient has been a victim of a surgical error, North Carolina law allows them to pursue legal action against the surgeon, medical professional, and/or medical facility for the losses they have suffered because of this medical negligence.
If the victim dies as a result of the surgical error, their family may still pursue a malpractice lawsuit for the losses the victim suffered, as well as the losses the family now must endure because of the untimely death of their loved one.
Contact a North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Today
At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, our team of legal professionals has spent almost four decades helping people who have been harmed by medical malpractice. An experienced North Carolina surgical error attorney can make all the difference in the success of your case, ensuring that you are able to establish liability and receive the full and fair compensation you deserve.
If you have questions about your legal rights, take a moment to review our library of medical malpractice and surgical error FAQs. For more detailed information about your particular situation, call today to schedule a free and confidential consultation and find out how we can help.
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