Wrong-site surgery (WSS) is the most serious kind of medical malpractice – the kind that makes the news. WSS includes instances where the wrong surgical procedure is performed on a patient; where the surgery is conducted on the wrong part or side of the body; and where a surgery is performed on the wrong patient. WSS isn’t frequent, but it’s rising at a disturbing pace. Only 15 WSS incidents were reported in the United States in 1998, but by 2007, that number had grown to 592 cases. In southern California, if you are injured in a wrong-site surgery incident, arrange to speak at once with an experienced Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney.
To avoid wrong-site surgeries, doctors, nurses, technicians, and patients should be exceedingly cautious in all surgical situations and particularly in facilities that can become busy, chaotic, or disorderly. WSS has a variety of causes, but in general, it’s imperative for hospitals and other healthcare facilities to implement policies, standards, and procedures that eliminate chaos and confusion.
While no promise can ever be made regarding the result of any particular case, if you’re injured by wrong-site surgery, you’re likely to prevail if you file a medical malpractice claim. The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports that in recent years, 79 percent of wrong-site eye surgery claims and 84 percent of wrong-site orthopedic surgery claims have resulted in malpractice settlements or judgments. If you’ve been injured by wrong-site surgery, let a good medical malpractice lawyer investigate your case, protect your rights, and fight for justice on your behalf. In California, if you are injured by medical malpractice, you may be reimbursed for your additional medical costs, lost income, and related expenses. If you’ve been injured by medical negligence during any surgical procedure in the Los Angeles area, don’t wait; put your case immediately in the hands of an experienced Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney.