When medical staff makes an error during surgery, they can quickly risk a patient’s life.
Surgery requires immense skill and care from surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses. When medical staff makes an error during surgery, they can quickly risk a patient’s life. Even when a surgical error is not fatal, it causes serious injuries. Although surgical errors come in many forms, some types of errors and their causes are more common than others. Preventing these errors is essential; the first step is recognizing the causes. Here are some common causes of surgical errors.
Fatigue
Doctors are often overworked and don’t get the rest they need to operate safely. Surgeries require focus and attention, which is lacking when the mind and body are tired. When a surgeon is too tired, they can not remember proper surgical procedures or perform surgery properly.
Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosing medical conditions is another common cause of surgical errors. Doctors may order incorrect tests or fail to recognize the symptoms of advanced diseases. The resulting misdiagnosis often means you receive treatments you don’t need, including surgery errors. Misdiagnosis can also include patients receiving certain medications that can cause allergic reactions.
Stress
Doctors are human, and they make mistakes. They deal with many stressful situations caused by outside stressors, such as their home life. They may feel pressure to perform or be in a difficult position at work. Unfortunately, this can lead to patient harm if the doctor is distracted by their personal life. External stress is not an excuse for causing damage to a patient. A doctor must come into the operating room focused on the procedure.
Insufficient Staffing
Poor staffing includes not having enough nurses to support the surgeons and monitor patient vitals properly. Without sufficient staff for surgery, everyone on the surgical team becomes overworked, leading to critical mistakes. Insufficient staff may also result from not having appropriate specialists to call in to assist if complications arise during a procedure.
Unsanitary conditions
It is not enough for a team of surgeons to know how to perform surgery safely; they must do so in sanitary conditions. Dirty surgical equipment, unwashed hands, and other contaminated tools can lead to life-threatening infections, which is why everything must be as clean as possible. Surgical errors can occur when hospitals don’t create a healthy work environment for doctors.
When a medical facility fails to keep its patients safe during surgery, it takes an experienced medical malpractice attorney to hold them accountable. If you suspect you suffered from a surgical error, contact The Snyder Law Group today to learn about your options after suffering from any kind of medical malpractice.
Contact The Snyder Law Group Today
The Snyder Law Group, LLC, proudly represents clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our experienced Baltimore attorneys understand the frustration that comes with an insurance company, medical professional, or other party that refuses to accept liability for negligent or reckless behavior. You can take heart in knowing there are talented and experienced lawyers ready to work for you. We are experienced in handling personal injury claims of medical malpractice or injury resulting from serious car and truck accidents, and have secured hundreds of millions in verdicts and settlements. Please visit our website, www.410thefirm.com, or call us at 410-843-3476, for more information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.