It’s very common to assume that wrong-site surgery means the surgical team operated at the wrong location. This can be a significant error leading to life-changing injuries for that patient. It could cause a disability, prevent them from working and lead to extensive medical bills.
When patients are seeking compensation for these costs, though, they may want to consider the specific type of wrong-site surgery they endured. There are many different variations. Below below are three common examples.
1. Wrong-side surgery
To begin with, the surgeon may operate on the wrong side of a person’s body. A patient may go in for an operation on the right hip but the surgeon accidentally operates on the left hip. This can lead to additional pain and suffering, as well as delaying the appropriate surgery.
2. Wrong-procedure surgery
In some cases, surgeons will also just carry out the wrong procedure entirely. This could be because of a communication error within the hospital. It can also happen when medical records and instructions get mixed up, so the surgeon doesn’t even know that they’re doing the wrong procedure.
3. Wrong-patient surgery
Similarly, communication issues sometimes mean that surgeons will operate on the wrong person. This could happen if two people have the same last name. If the hospital staff accidentally switches the records, the surgeon may not know they have the wrong patient until after the fact.
If you have suffered harm or lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, you may be able to seek significant financial compensation. This can be a complicated process, so it may help to have an experienced and knowledgeable legal team at your side.
