Surgical Errors
Medical and
surgical errors take the lives of up to 100,000 people and injure thousands
more. With so much focus on medical malpractice reform, surgical errors
have been under higher scrutiny. The more extensive media spotlight on
medical malpractice has enabled patients to be more aware of becoming informed
and being more proactive in getting educated about their individual health
care.
The plastic surgery surge over the last couple years has also stressed
the need for patients to question what type of procedures are being performed
and how it can affect them as the number of surgical errors is becoming
a problem with unqualified and inexperienced surgeons. Patients that are
more informed have a better chance for positive outcomes and less risk of
surgical errors because they have questioned all aspects and made sure the
doctor is qualified and prepared. Many patients fail to get the information
they need because they are unsure of what questions to even ask.
The more questions the patient asks, the less likely for surgical errors
because the patient has confronted the doctor with all aspects of the procedure
and maybe caused the doctor to more closely examine certain techniques.
Patients that are aware of what is involved with their medical procedures
can also learn of ways to prepare that can help reduce possible contributors
of surgical errors. Questioning doctors can keep everyone involved in the
surgical procedure more on top of what is going on.
A new campaign has just been launched to give patients advice on what type
of questions they can ask to better promote safer surgery and reduce instances
of surgical errors. Included in the campaign are five questions that can
allow the patient to determine what other treatment options exist, what
type of instruments will be used in the surgery, which can contribute to
surgical errors, as well as other important factors. Over one third of all
surgical errors in ambulatory surgery centers and nearly one fifth of all
surgical errors in a hospital setting are because the surgeon has performed
on the wrong part of the body.
This is a surprisingly high number of surgical errors that can easily be
prevented. Steps like verifying the surgeon will perform the correct procedure
on the appropriate bodily area can help eliminate the surgical errors that
are the result of carelessness. While some patients may assume the surgeon
is aware of where the procedure is being performed, it does not hurt to
make sure since the frequency of that type of surgical error is so widespread.
Getting general information about the surgery, the preparation for the
surgery, ways to pick a qualified surgeon, what types of questions to ask
about the surgery, and what to expect from the surgery and during recovery
are topics that patients should be equipped with. Smarter patients can help
reduce the number of surgical errors by making sure medical staff is staying
alert and paying attention to every detail.
For more information on surgical errors,
please contact us.
More Information on Surgical Malpractice:
• Surgical Malpractice
• Surgical Mistakes
• Surgical Errors |
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