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Unfortunately, there are pitfalls with routine and major surgery, and no surgeon is free from the risk of errors. While not all errors are considered negligent, the majority that are could easily be prevented.
According to an article published in 2012 by WebMD, more than 4,000 preventable mistakes occur during surgeries each year and cost more than $1.3 billion in malpractice payouts. The most common type of surgical error is a “never event,” named as such because these are the types of surgical errors that should never happen. This can include performing the wrong surgical procedure or leaving a surgical supply inside the patient post-surgery.
While the study estimates 4,000 errors per year, it also states that they feel this number is grossly underestimated, and that thousands more of these errors go unreported each year. This is because hospitals are only required by law to report never events if there is a settlement or judgment.
While a patient can only do so much, there may be things they can do to prevent the likelihood they become a victim of surgical errors. These things include:
Surgical errors carry devastating financial and physical results – and in some cases, may even be fatal. If you are the victim of a surgical error, contact Berkowitz and Hanna LLC online or call 866-479-7909 to request a consultation.
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