Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my doctor made a mistake during surgery?
A: Being the victim of a medical malpractice surgical mistake is devastating, but there are steps you can take to recover. Most medical malpractice lawsuits involve surgical mistakes.
Surgical mistakes can include:
- A surgical instrument left inside the body after surgery
- An operation on the wrong side of the body
- An unneeded surgery due to misdiagnosis
- A surgery performed on the wrong patient
Estimates of people who experience wrong-site surgery are between 1,300 and 2,700 per year. Due to the large number of reports to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, a Universal Protocol was established to help prevent wrong-site surgeries. The Protocol, designed by the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgery, and the American Dental Association includes procedures for surgical settings to reduce the number of medical malpractice mistakes.
Even though you may have suffered awful consequences from your surgery, not every mistake is considered medical malpractice. If you believe you’ve been the victim of a surgical mistake it’s important to first speak with a medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice claims can help you determine liability and protect your rights as a patient.
Doctors and hospitals carry medical malpractice insurance in case of such an event. Their attorneys will represent the physician and hospital.
Receiving a monetary verdict or settlement for your injuries will not correct what has happened, but it may increase public awareness and help you recover financial losses due to the malpractice of a health care professional.
If you have been involved in an accident and injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. 1-888-208-1695.
