Wrong-site surgery is one of the most devastating types of medical mistakes. It can certainly constitute medical malpractice and may lead to severe injury, disability, disfigurement and other life-altering issues for the patient.
That said, there are a few different ways that wrong-site surgery takes place. It’s important to understand some of these differences, so below are three examples.
1. Operating on the wrong patient
In roughly 5% of cases, surgeons operate on the wrong person entirely. For instance, two people may be admitted to the hospital for surgery on the same day, with the same last name and first initial. A member of the medical team could make a mistake and switch their records, causing the surgeon to operate on the wrong person.
2. Carrying out the wrong procedure
In other cases, the surgeon may have the right patient but perform the wrong surgery. For example, say that someone has a spinal cord injury lower down on the spinal column and needs surgery. However, the surgeon performs an operation much higher on the spinal column, near the neck. This could cause life-changing ramifications for the patient, who would still need a second surgery to address the actual issue.
3. Operating on the wrong side
The most common problem, which occurs in 59% of these cases, is when the medical team operates on the wrong side of a patient’s body. For instance, someone may go in for surgery on their left knee but instead receive surgery on their right knee. In some cases, such as with amputation surgeries, the consequences can be devastating.
Have you experienced harm due to medical malpractice? Be sure you know exactly what legal options you have moving forward.