As a surgery patient, you may have certain expectations about the level of care and precision that the physicians treating you take during your procedure. Most surgeries present risks beyond simply failing to correct the issue at hand. However, patients rarely take into account the potential mistakes of those performing the surgery or the team that facilitates the work.
Questions to ask a surgeon before surgery
The skill and professionalism of a surgeon is one of those things that one rarely considers until it's time to go under the knife. After all, aren't most surgeons good at their jobs? In general, yes, most surgeons are good at their jobs, but they are also human beings who make mistakes. Some of them, unfortunately, make more frequent and more dangerous mistakes than others.
How do I choose a surgeon?
Even though medical practices have evolved to the point where patient safety is a higher level than ever before, there is always the possibility of suffering an injury during a surgical procedure. As such, if you are likely to need surgery in the near future, you owe it to yourself to prepare by doing some research. The fact is, not all doctors are equally skilled, and the quality of care they offer can vary greatly.
Cosmetic procedure presents fat embolism risk
Many people desire to look their very best. And there are many surgical procedures that can address specific aspects of our appearance that we wish to improve. Typically, cosmetic surgery is considered comparatively safe. But the fact is, there are inherent risks that you take whenever you have any type of surgery. And a recent report reveals that one specific cosmetic procedure could be especially dangerous.
Sponges left in patients can cause serious medical issues
Any sort of invasive surgery is complicated and requires doctors, nurses, and other operating staff members to focus their full attention on the procedure. The slightest misstep could cause a patient to suffer a serious or fatal injury. And one of the most critical steps of any procedure actually takes place when most of the work has been completed.
Like doctors, surgical robots can make serious errors
We can see technological advances are everywhere, from the cell phones in our pockets to the cars we drive, and even in the ways we can watch movies and listen to music. But perhaps the most important technological strides can be found in the medical field. After all, what could be more important than our health? And we are better off when we can receive the best treatment possible.
Get the help you need after an OR burn injury
Each year, hundreds of thousands of individuals undergo surgical procedures. While the majority of these cases are successful and go without incident, some of them result in injury. One cause of significant injury in the OR is burns. If you or someone you know received a burn injury during a surgical procedure, it may be in your best interest to speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
What are the most common surgical errors?
Surgical errors occur by the thousands each year. Some of these mistakes are relatively minor, while others are life-threatening. By examining these mistakes, researchers have discovered that the top three most commonly occurring surgical mistakes are the ones that should never happen and have no excuse. These "never events," as they are known by researchers, statistically occur on a weekly basis and account for over 4,000 surgical errors every year.
When gross negligence speaks for itself
Nightmares should remain in the dark. They should be something you wake up from, to the comfort of a soft pillow and the relief that it is already receding into the shadows as the sun comes up on your day. But what if your nightmare doesn't recede? What if the man or woman or medical team that has taken an oath to heal has become so desensitized to the gravity of their role that they make mistakes? What if the mistakes they make are so obvious in nature that even an untrained eye can spot the error?
You may have options when a surgery goes bad
How many times have you heard someone tell you a story about a loved one and they mention that they died or had serious medical issues as a result of the medical treatment they were given? While it is quite common to hear, what isn't often heard is what a person can do to make things right or to at least receive remuneration and hold the responsible party accountable.
