What You Need to Know

Regardless of the complexities of a procedure, when a patient has surgery, there are inevitable risks involved. The health care provider should always explain any known risks associated with the procedure. Most hospitals require the patient to sign paperwork, showing that they acknowledge these risks.

However, the risk of medical or surgical malpractice is an unfortunate reality. Patients trust their doctors to the fullest when it comes to performing surgery. The surgery may be minor and non- intrusive, or it could be a serious and complicated procedure. In any case, medical or surgical malpractice has serious consequences.

• Surgery Risks

  Some surgical procedures pose more risk than others. The most common surgical procedures where surgical errors occur include:

  • Gastric bypass
  • Childbirth (Cesarean Section)
  • Cardiothoracic
  • Thoracic surgery
  • Laparoscopic intestinal surgery

  Surgical errors can also occur in cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures such as:

  • Otoplasty (ear surgery)
  • Rhytidectomy (facelift)
  • Rhinoplasty (nasal surgery)
  • Breast augmentation
  • Liposuction
• Causes of Complications

  Surgical complications are sometimes the result of a surgeon’s negligence. This also applies to post-surgery complications. The surgeon or any other medical professional who was involved with the surgery could have caused complications after the surgery through their negligence.

  Some causes of surgical complications include:

  • Use of unsanitary surgical utensils/instruments
  • Incorrect incision (either incorrect location or type of cut)
  • Organ puncture or perforation
  • Surgery on the wrong organ, wrong site or wrong side
  • Delayed surgery
  • Prolonged surgery
• Consequences

  Surgical errors can cause infections, illness and sometimes, the need for additional surgery to repair the damage. At times, surgical errors can be fatal.