Everyone makes mistakes. As long as there are humans, there will always be human error. But some mistakes should never happen, especially in a healthcare setting. These are referred to as ‘never events,’ and they can have severe consequences. The significance of...
Surgical Errors
The dangers of retained surgical objects
Doctors and nurses use many tools during surgery, including needles, scissors, sponges, clamps and scalpels. While medical practitioners are supposed to be very careful during operations to avoid injuring patients, there are times when surgical tools are left inside a...
Tactics used to avoid wrong-site surgery
Wrong-site surgery can be an absolutely devastating mistake for a patient. It can cause long-term complications that they may never recover from. It also means they do not receive the proper treatment they need. However, medical teams can use various tactics to...
Are you a victim of a never event in surgery?
Placing your trust in surgical professionals requires a lot of faith, especially when you're under anesthesia. You expect to wake up with your medical issue treated, not a new set of health complications. And yet, that actually happens. Sometimes, patients discover...
3 potentially catastrophic consequences of surgical negligence
Surgeons and other medical professionals are required to provide a standard of care that – in accordance with professional standards and expectations – helps to ensure patient safety and well-being. Nevertheless, negligence in the operating room can lead to...
Distractions in the OR that could result in surgical errors
Medical professionals must perform their duties with reasonable medical care, especially in the operating room, where risks are higher than usual. However, mistakes can happen during surgeries, too. Even the simplest thing in the operating room can distract a surgeon...
What are the consequences of postoperative negligence?
When you attend the hospital for surgery, it may be no exaggeration to say that you’re putting your life into the hands of the surgeons who are operating on you. You have to trust them to take care of you. Your care, however, should not end when you leave the...
Common anesthesia mistakes that can lead to injury
When you check in at the hospital for a surgical procedure, you hope everyone attending to you (the surgeons, anesthetists and the nurses) has the resources and expertise and experience necessary to help you recover and get back on your feet. And most often, this is...
4 Common Types of Surgical Errors
Whether they are seeking medical intervention for necessary or cosmetic purposes, surgery patients expect their operations to go well. Though some surgeries are successful, others do result in harm or otherwise fail to result in favorable outcomes. According to SCS...
Why do unnecessary surgeries happen?
Unnecessary surgery is one of the leading malpractices that occur in hospitals. Reports show that surgery is the second most common cause of medical malpractice lawsuits. Examples of common unnecessary surgeries include C-sections, heart surgeries, hysterectomies...