Surgical never events are mistakes that should never occur. They are the most severe surgical errors, and may lead to death or permanent injuries. In fact, according to studies done by the Joint Commission, 71% of surgical never events over a 12-year period were fatal. Surgical never events are entirely preventable, and although rare, they have devastating consequences. Healthcare organizations have launched safety protocols to help prevent surgical never events, such as using a checklist and having a “time out” session before every surgery. Proper communication with your doctor can also help protect you from a surgical never event.
Surgical never events fall into three broad categories:
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Performing the wrong procedure
Implanting the wrong medical device or prosthesis, removing the wrong part of a patient's body, and performing surgery on a patient with a similar last name can have life-altering consequences. Doctors, surgeons, and nursing staff must communicate clearly to avoid such errors. Miscommunication and inadequate preparation could lead to a surgical never event.
Other examples of surgical never events include accidentally leaving a sponge or surgical instrument inside the patient’s body, performing a mismatched blood transfusion, failing to prevent a post-operative fatality, and making medication errors. If you or someone you love have suffered a surgical never event, it is important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney right away. Surgical never events are entirely preventable, and surgeons, hospital staff, and others must be held accountable for negligence.
Call Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC Today at (859) 253-0088
At Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC, we have represented hundreds of clients who have been injured by someone else. If you have been a victim of a surgical never event, or you have suffered other injuries from medical malpractice, we are here to help. Our Lexington medical malpractice attorneys have more than 30 years of combined legal experience, and will tenaciously uphold justice for your case.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.