When you are wheeled into the surgery room, you expect the operating team to do their best during the operation. However, it is not always the case. Avoidable mistakes happen during surgery, and they can have devastating long-term consequences on your life.
Some common surgical errors include wrong-site surgery, where the surgeon operates on the wrong part of the body or the wrong patient, leaving surgical instruments inside the patient’s body after surgery, damaging organs or nerves during the operation and administering the wrong medication or dosage.
The potential consequences of surgical mistakes
Life may never be the same after a botched surgery. You may have to endure chronic pain, disability, and disfigurement, all of which can negatively affect your quality of life. In addition, you may require further treatment or prolonged hospital stays, leading to emotional distress and financial burden.
Beyond the physical and financial toll, surgical errors can also significantly impact your mental health. Many patients experience anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a surgical error. It could lead to a loss of trust in the healthcare system and difficulty in seeking medical treatment in the future.
Surgical errors could also hurt your career. If you end up with limited abilities due to an injured nerve or a disability, it may be impossible to handle some tasks like before.
Holding the negligent healthcare providers liable
There is no room for laxity or negligence during surgery, given that your life and well-being are on the line. The law requires healthcare providers to treat their patients with reasonable care and protect them from foreseeable harm.
Learning more about the steps to take in holding the negligent parties accountable can help safeguard your interests and increase your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.