What to Do If a “Never Event” Happens to You or a Loved One

 Posted on January 25, 2022 in Medical Malpractice

Anyone going into surgery is understandably nervous. While the majority of surgeries are completed successfully, surgical errors do occur. Some surgical mistakes are so terrible, they should never happen. Unfortunately, these so-called “never events” can and do occur. One study reported that approximately 4000 never events occur each year in the United States. Often, these egregious surgical mistakes lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one were a victim of a severe surgical error, contact a medical malpractice lawyer for help.

Surgical Mistakes Can Lead to Profound Suffering

No one expects surgeons, doctors, and other medical staff to be perfect, but we do expect a certain degree of competency. Unfortunately, medical professionals do not always meet these expectations.

In 2001, the term “never event” was first used in reference to extreme surgical mistakes. These types of mistakes are unacceptable and should never happen. Some examples of never events include:

• Performing surgery on the wrong body part – Although it is hard to believe, surgeons sometimes operate on the wrong body part or the wrong area of the body. In one famous medical malpractice case, a 52-year-old man went in to have his disease-ridden leg amputated but surgeons amputated the healthy leg instead.

• Leaving surgical equipment in the patient’s body – Surgeons use a variety of tools and equipment to operate. If medical staff forget about a sponge, scalpel, or another instrument, the instrument may be left inside of the patient’s body cavity after the surgery is complete. Unintended retention of a foreign object can cause terrible pain, infections, and a host of other medical problems.

• Performing the wrong surgical procedure – Sometimes, medical staff confuses two patients. They may mix up the patient’s files or miscommunicate the patients’ needs. When this occurs, a patient may endure unnecessary surgery while being denied the procedure necessary to help him or her.

• Contamination during surgery – Operating rooms, tools, and equipment must be properly sterilized to prevent infection. Unfortunately, when staff fail to properly clean equipment, patients may suffer serious injury or death.

Contact a Rockford Surgical Errors Lawyer

Mistakes before, during, and immediately after surgery can lead to catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries. If you or a loved one were harmed because of a medical professional’s negligence or wrongdoing, contact Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, for help. Our Winnebago County medical malpractice lawyers can help you stand up for your rights and seek financial compensation or your damages.

Call 815-215-7561 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/17/us/doctor-who-cut-off-wrong-leg-is-defended-by-colleagues.html

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/issue/surgical-never-events-united-states

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/never-events