Surgical Errors Law
What is Surgical Error Law?
Surgical Errors Law refers to a subset of Medical Malpractice related to injuries resulting during surgical procedures. The area focuses largely on surgeons failing to give adequate information to the patient or the patient's family to allow for informed consent, performing unnecessary procedures due to negligence or pecuniary interests, performing procedures for which the surgeon is not qualified, performing a procedure on the wrong patient or wrong body part, or other mistakes made during surgery.
Surgery Errors as Medical Malpractice
Surgical errors can be medical malpractice if the surgeon's performance falls below the accepted standard of care for a reasonably competent surgeon under similar circumstances, and the patient is injured as a result. Although some surgical errors are the result of a physician's actual incompetence, most result from poor planning before surgery or failure to properly communicate with the patient or his/her family about the possible risks associated with a procedure.
Some estimate that there are nearly 100,000 injuries from surgical errors every year in the United States. Of course, the nature of surgery means that many errors may go unreported or some events may be blamed on surgical error that are not, making these numbers very rough.
Common Causes of Surgical Errors
Doctors and other medical professionals usually have standard procedures they follow before, during, and after any medical procedure. Nevertheless, a breakdown in these procedures can lead to injuries. For example, if medical staff lack sufficient information about a patient's medical history, including reactions to medications, they may not be able to adequately evaluate the risks of a particular surgery on a specific patient. Another common problem is miscommunication, where one practitioner misidentifies a patient, marks the wrong area for surgery, confuses medications, etc.
Doctors and medical staff, particularly in emergency rooms, are often overworked and may suffer from fatigue. This tiredness can lead to an almost intoxicated state that affects judgment and motor skills. This can be deadly during a surgical procedure. This can also lead to neglectful behavior, such as failing to properly sterilize instruments or use instruments less well-suited to the procedure.
Very rarely, surgical errors may be the result of actual incompetence. Surgeons undergo years of study and training, but even this cannot guarantee that all doctors will be sufficiently skilled to perform a particular procedure.
More Information
For more information about Surgical Errors Laws, please see the materials listed below. You can also contact an attorney in your area that can answer your questions and assist you with your legal claims by visiting our Law Firms page and searching by your location.
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Surgical Errors Law - US
- ABA - Standing Committee on Medical Professional Liability
The Standing Committee on Medical Professional Liability is devoted to preserving and protecting the legal rights and remedies of persons injured while obtaining medical treatment and care. The Committee monitors policies that promote protecting the public as consumers of medical and health care services at the federal level regarding medical liability.
- Nora Institute for Surgical Patient Safety
The Institute was founded to * Assist with further efforts by the American College of Surgeons in the area of surgical patient safety. * To inform and educate patients and surgeons about the practice and principles of surgical patient safety. * To monitor the legislative process at both federal and the state levels
- Office of the Surgeon General (OSG)
The Office of the Surgeon General, under the direction of the Surgeon General, oversees the operations of the 6,500-member Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service and provides support for the Surgeon General in the accomplishment of her other duties. The Office is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Wrong Diagnosis - Medical Malpractice and Surgical Errors/Complications
WrongDiagnosis.com is one of the world’s leading providers of online medical health information. The site is an independent, objective source of factual, mainstream health information for both consumers and health professionals. WrongDiagnosis.com provides a free health-information service to help people understand their health better, offering crucial and factual health information that is otherwise difficult to find.
Organizations Related to Surgical Errors Law
- AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet)
AHRQ Patient Safety Network (PSNet) is a national web-based resource featuring the latest news and essential resources on patient safety. The site offers weekly updates of patient safety literature, news, tools, and meetings ("What’s New"), and a vast set of carefully annotated links to important research and other information on patient safety ("The Collection").
- American Board of Surgery
The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1937 to certify surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge. Surgeons certified by the ABS, known as diplomates, have completed at least five years of surgical residency training following medical school and successfully completed a written and oral examination process administered by the ABS.
- American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons “Patients as Partners in Surgical Care” site contains educational information to help you and your family become informed about your operation and surgical care. We are working to provide you with the most current information about surgical procedures, diseases, tests, medications and pain management from government and professional sources to support you in participating in your surgical care.
- American Medical Association (AMA)
Since 1847 the American Medical Association (AMA) has had one mission: to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. Today, the core strategy used to carry out this mission is our concerted effort to help doctors help patients. We do this by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues.
- Operation Patient Access
Operation Patient Access is the overarching communications campaign that will serve as the advocacy platform in 2009 and 2010 for America’s surgical community, including patients, surgeons and other providers – with the ultimate goal of bringing into focus the urgent issues facing access to quality surgical care.
Publications Related to Surgical Errors Law
- AHRQ WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web)
AHRQ WebM&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds on the Web) is the online journal and forum on patient safety and health care quality. This site features expert analysis of medical errors reported anonymously by our readers, interactive learning modules on patient safety ("Spotlight Cases"), and Perspectives on Safety.
- Dead By Mistake
Every year approximately 200,000 American patients die preventable deaths as tools to make them safer go unused. Patients are in the dark about facilities’ safety records, yet only fragments of the government's wealth of information is shared.
- Medical Malpractice.com - Surgery Malpractice
Surgery malpractice and surgical negligence can occur in a variety of ways, from anesthesia errors to a mistake by the surgeon. Patients who have suffered an injury due to surgical negligence have a legal right to pursue a medical malpractice claim for all damages associated with the error. See the articles below for details on some of the most common issues of surgical malpractice, as well as learn about the legal and economic issues surrounding medical malpractice complaints.
Articles on HG.org Related to Surgical Errors Law
- Michigan Medical Malpractice 101Michigan, like many other states, has strict rules governing the procedure one must follow in pursuing a lawsuit against a healthcare provider or hospital. Make a mistake, and the case might be dismissed. This area of the law is so complicated, a patient should not try to represent themselves.
- Expert Witness Evaluation Regarding Perinatal Malpractice CasesPerinatal malpractice cases are often discovered through the keen use of procedures performed on the placenta and residue to reveal what caused the damage to mother, child or both. With the assistance of an expert witness, it may be easier to prove that the doctor was guilty of malpractice in these situations.
- FDA Case Studies Reveal Diagnostic Risks of LaboratoryThe medical diagnostic process is incredibly complex, and as a result, errors aren't uncommon during this process. It is difficult to trace the number of these mistakes that occur in Chicago and other parts of Illinois each year, since many go uncaught for months or longer.
- Expert Witnesses Discuss Dangers of Using Forceps during ChildbirthThere are many dangers in childbirth, but there are none greater than when the baby is harmed during the process. This may occur with various tools, methods or if there are complications that arise in the middle of the procedure.
- When is a Surgical Error Malpractice?Every surgery – even the most minor – poses the risk of medical error. But does every surgical error constitute as medical malpractice? Malpractice is essentially negligence.
- Medical Laboratory Expert Witness in Medical Malpractice CasesMany cases have the need for a medical laboratory in issues with malpractice claims. This means that certain aspects need further testing, or there are factors in a medical malpractice suit that need clarification. This usually requires the assistance of a medical laboratory expert witness to explain these details and processes.
- Can You Sue for Unsatisfactory Plastic Surgery Results?Plastic surgery is an elective procedure that usually requires out of pocket income for payment to the healthcare facility and physician that attends the patient. In most circumstances, these surgeries are requested at the behest of a specific person that wants to alter something or feels that a change of a cosmetic manner is needed.
- What Is the Role of a Medical Expert Winess in a Malpractice Case?In a medical malpractice case, a medical expert may provide critical information before or during the trial. It is important for the person hiring the expert to have a clear understanding of the role of the medical expert and on laws that pertain to medical malpractice cases.
- How to Manage a Plastic Surgery InjuryLike any situation where you are attending an appointment or a treatment with a physician, the potential for injuries is there with a plastic surgeon as well. Injuries sustained as a result of a doctor’s negligence may form the basis of a medical malpractice claim.
- Bad Outcome vs. Medical Negligence: What You Need to KnowConsulting with an attorney is strongly recommended as soon as possible after you believe you have suffered an event of medical malpractice
- All Health Care and Social Law Articles
Articles written by attorneys and experts worldwide discussing legal aspects related to Health Care and Social including: defective drugs, failure to diagnose, informed consent, medical law, medical malpractice, medication errors, pharmaceutical law, social security, social services law, surgical errors.
