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Common surgical malpractice issues

On Behalf of | Feb 6, 2023 | Medical Malpractice

Many aspects of medical care put patients at risk of malpractice on the part of the care provider. One of the most common areas of medical practice at risk of malpractice issues is surgery. Whether you or a loved one experienced a traumatic episode with your surgery, you should know how to address it.

Here are a few common malpractice issues that may arise during surgery.

Mistakes on the part of the surgeon

Surgeons are highly respected medical professionals, but they are not infallible. A mistake by a surgeon can be life-altering in some cases. For example, a nicked artery as a result of inattention or insufficient rest could qualify as malpractice.

Perforated bowels, punctured intestines and even surgical sponges left in the wound are malpractice issues in many cases. In extreme malpractice situations with a surgeon, they may perform the wrong procedure or operate on the wrong limb due to misinterpretation of records or inattention.

Mistakes on the part of the anesthesiologist

Anesthesiologists are responsible for sedating surgical patients and monitoring vitals and sedation dosing throughout the procedure. If you wake up during your surgery due to a miscalculation or oversight by the anesthesiologist, you may have a malpractice claim for the traumatic experience.

Allergic reactions, blood clots and complications due to underlying medical conditions all qualify as malpractice if the anesthesiologist overlooked the information in the chart.

Remember that proving malpractice is challenging. There must be evidence of oversights or negligence in the situation at hand, which often requires supporting testimony of witnesses or copies of your records.