What Types of Surgical Errors Are Common?
Errors in the operating room can have permanent, life-altering consequences. We trust our doctors and surgeons to perform medical procedures efficiently and with our best interests in mind; however, surgical errors are much more common than you may think.
According to a study done by Johns Hopkins, surgical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. They approximate that more than 250,000 deaths are caused by surgical errors every year. Our West Virginia surgical error lawyers are here to hold those medical professionals and hospitals accountable for their deadly mistakes.
Common Surgical Errors
Foreign objects are left in the patient’s body.
A variety of equipment and medical tools are used during all surgeries. Too frequently, one of those tools is left inside a patient. This includes objects like scalpels, gauze, sponges, and clamps. Once left inside, the object can cause severe pain and infection. A secondary surgery and longer recovery time are necessary to remove the item and heal.