We know that you are likely aware by now that medical mistakes are a bigger problem in this country than most people realized. Johns Hopkins researchers say that as many as 250,000 people lose their lives each year due to errors made by healthcare professionals.
If you are a regular Readers Digest reader, then you likely saw a recent article covering some of the things that can go wrong in the operating room. Today, we are going to discuss some of those things as well as some other common medical errors so that you can be better prepared when dealing with healthcare professionals. If you need a Philadelphia surgical malpractice attorney, call The Weitz Firm, LLC today so we can get to work on securing the compensation you deserve.
What Happens In The ER?
Anytime a person undergoes a surgical procedure, no matter how minor or major, there are going to be risks involved. If you have ever had surgery, then you are aware that your doctors and surgeon are going to explain all of the risks to you and ask for your consent to operate. However, there are times when surgeons or the people on their operating team make major errors that are outside of the risks you knew about.
Sometimes items are left behind inside of a person’s body. This happens about 4,500 to 6,000 times annually in the US and is considered a “never event.” Most of the time, the item left behind is a sponge or piece of gauze. This may not sound detrimental, but it can cause major complications and infection.
There are times when surgeons operate on the wrong body part or in the wrong area of the body. Before surgery takes place, surgical teams usually mark a patient’s body to indicate where the operation will take place. If this doesn’t happen or if there is a mix-up, surgeons can perform unnecessary surgery while not performing the right one.
Other Medical Mistakes
Other medical mistakes that are fairly common include:
- Mistakes made with patient medications. This can include wrong dosages, not giving a patient their correct meds, or not giving them meds at all.
- A misdiagnosis can mean a person is never treated or gets delayed treatment for their injury or illness.
- Healthcare-acquired infections are often the result of protocols not being followed.
What We Can Do To Help
At The Weitz Firm, LLC, you can count on a caring and compassionate team. We will sit with you and patiently listen as we try to understand what happened to you. We know that medical mistakes are detrimental and we do not think you should be on the line for expenses that result from them.
Our knowledgeable and experienced team will work tirelessly to secure compensation for the following:
- Your medical costs
- Pain and suffering damages
- Lost income and benefits if you cannot work
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Punitive damages
When you need a surgical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
