Every time someone is to undergo a surgical operation there are risks of medical and surgical malpractice. One form this kind of medical malpractice can take is in surgical errors. Surgical errors may range from consequences stemming from pre-operative care to perforations of internal organs by a surgical utensil during the performance of surgical procedures.
An estimated 98,000 hospital patients are killed every year, according to the Institute of Medicine, as a direct result of medical malpractice. Even though the medical profession is highly esteemed for its quality of performance, this modest estimation raises serious concerns about the safety standards and quality of care in today's medical profession.
The most common examples of surgical errors are:
- Use of unsanitary surgical utensils
- Incorrect incision
- Organ puncture or perforation
- Surgery on wrong organ, wrong site surgery or wrong side surgery
- Delayed surgery
- Prolonged surgery
Surgical errors may occur in any kind of medical procedure involving intrusive and non-intrusive surgery. Even the simplest of cosmetic surgical procedures may result in a surgical error.
The most common types of surgeries where surgical errors occur are:
- Gastric Bypass
- Childbirth
- Cardiothoracic
- Thoracic Surgery
- Laparoscopic Intestinal Surgery
- Plastic Surgery/Cosmetic Surgery
The most common types of cosmetic surgical procedures where the medical malpractice of surgical errors may occur are:
- Otoplasty - Ear Surgery
- Rhytidectomy - Face Lift
- Rhinoplasty - Nasal Surgery
- Breast Augmentation
- Liposuction