Operating on the Wrong Patient

Surgical errors can have devastating consequences. If you or your loved one has been subjected to a surgical procedure that was supposed to be performed on another patient, we can potentially help. At Arfaa Law Group, our seasoned Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys are committed to assisting victims of such egregious medical errors in pursuing the maximum amount of compensation in their cases. We know this is an incredibly difficult time for you and your family, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost consideration.

According to a Johns Hopkins study, every year, more than 4,000 preventable mistakes take place during surgeries in the US. When a surgeon operates on the wrong patient, serious injury can result. Sadly, wrong patient surgery happens more often than you may think. While it may sound unbelievable, the same study found that US surgeons operate on the wrong patient 20 times a week. Wrong patient surgery can lead to a number of problems - for one, the patient will still need to undergo the surgery that the surgeon was actually supposed to perform. For instance, if a patient was supposed to have a kidney operation and the surgeon ends up removing his or her appendix, that patient will still require a second operation for his or her kidney.

Perhaps the worst part about operating on the wrong patient is that it is entirely preventable. In fact, this type of error is known as a “never event” in the medical community because it is a mistake that is completely avoidable and should never happen. These errors are usually the result of poor administrative organization and/or inadequate communication procedures within a hospital. Before starting a surgery, medical professionals have an obligation to thoroughly check that the correct procedure is about to be performed on the correct patient.

If a surgeon performed an unnecessary surgery on you, you can seek to hold the at-fault party accountable through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional’s conduct deviates from the accepted standard of care and results in injury to the patient. The standard of care refers to the level of care that a reasonably prudent medical professional in the same speciality would have used under the specific circumstances. It is important to note that medical malpractice can take place when a medical professional does something that he or she should not have done, or fails to do something that he or she should have done. In cases where a surgeon operates on the wrong patient, the mistake itself clearly highlights a breach of the standard of care.

The victim of wrong patient surgery may have to deal with a variety of adverse consequences that can be both expensive and time consuming. The patient may suffer new health complications from the wrong procedure that was performed, not to mention the emotional stress and anxiety associated with having to go through another procedure. While no amount of money can undo the harm you have suffered, you should not have to bear the burden of the surgery error on your own. Our dedicated lawyers will fight for compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability and any other losses arising from the malpractice.

If you or someone close to you has been the victim of a surgical error involving the wrong surgery or procedure in Baltimore, you have the right to pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim. At Arfaa Law Group, our reputable and hardworking medical negligence lawyers understand the level of confusion and stress an error of this magnitude can have on a patient and his or her family, which is why we will handle your case with the utmost compassion. To discuss your case in more detail, call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.