You may have heard of the Da Vinci surgical device that has been helping surgeons in the operating room. It is an extremely dexterous robot that is able to perform the most delicate procedures with precision. It has been a great tool for surgeons to use, but the thing main this is this – they must know how to use it properly.
We are taking you across the ocean today because what happened to a man there can happen here as well. In England, a surgeon used the Da Vinci robot to assist him with a heart operation. Unfortunately, the patient, 69-year-old Stephen Pettitt, died a few days later due to multiple organ failure.
The surgeon said afterward that he “could have done with some more dry-run training” before the surgery, which marked the first time he had used the robot. In fact, he hadn’t even attended the training put on by the robot’s manufacturers.
At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we know that these errors happen and that many of them are preventable. If you need a Philadelphia surgical malpractice attorney, you can count on us to help.
We are sure you have heard about, or at least seen, the “never events” that can occur during surgery. They are usually the ones that show up on TV shows:
More than 4,000 preventable mistakes happen each year in surgery, that we know of. Here is the thing – surgical errors are a gray area because we only hear about the major ones. More minor surgical mistakes do not have to be reported to medical boards but they are just as dangerous to the patient.
Did you know that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States? Some estimate says that as many as 440,000 people are killed each year because of medical errors.
When it comes to surgical procedures, think about how many people are involved:
All of these people must work together, but an error made by one can affect the whole procedure.
Surgery is delicate and so many things are taken into consideration. This includes a patient’s medical history and any medications they are on. It also includes the risks of the surgery, which must be explained to the patient or their proxy ahead of time.
The recovery period of the surgery is just as important, but where many mistakes happen. A patient’s vital signs must be properly monitored and their dressing regularly checked and changed to prevent infections. A patient’s body is very vulnerable and weak after surgery.
If you or a loved one have suffered harm due to an error made during surgery, you should seek immediate legal assistance. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, our team understands the laws that go into medical malpractice cases and is ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering. We want to help recover money for:
When you need a Philadelphia surgical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.
