Posted on Wednesday, June 28th, 2017 at 11:42 pm
Surgical errors are a common cause of medical malpractice claims. Mistakes can be made at any step in the process from pre-op to post-op. Mistakes can also be made by the doctor or any one of the medical professionals assisting the surgeon. An error made during surgery can have life-altering consequences for the patient. Sadly, some errors result in death.
When an error is because of medical negligence, the patient has the right to seek compensation for his or her damages. Call (916) 999-9000 to speak with a Sacramento medical malpractice attorney if you believe you have been injured because of medical malpractice.
Mistakes with Drugs Before, During, and After Surgery
Mistakes involving surgical drugs can happen at any time during the surgical process. Most mistakes are due to a lack of communication between the doctors and other medical personnel or a failure to check paperwork before administering the drugs. The mistake can be made by one or more persons including the surgeon, attending physician, nurse, pharmacist, anesthesiologist, or another medical professional.
Common mistakes with medicine during surgery include:
- Drug labeling errors
- Prescribing the incorrect dosage
- Administering an incorrect dosage
- Administering the wrong drug
- Failing to fill the prescription as it is written
- Dangerous drug interactions
- Failing to administer a drug when needed
The results of a drug error during surgery can be deadly. Extreme caution must be exercised when prescribing and administering surgical drugs.
The Consequences of Drug Errors During Surgery
When the operating room staff, doctors, or pharmacists make drug errors, the patient could suffer life-threatening complications. In some cases, if the error does not result in death, the patient may be left with a permanent disability from the medical error. Most prescription drug errors that occur during surgery are because of human error and are completely preventable.
For example, a doctor means to prescribe a certain medication but becomes distracted by a text message and writes down the wrong medication. A nurse is distracted while administering a drug and administers too much or too little. The anesthesiologist is in a hurry and does not check for drug allergies before administering the anesthesia. There are hundreds of mistakes that can occur during surgery with prescription drugs.
What Can I Do If I am Injured During Surgery?
If you have suffered an injury because of a drug error during surgery, you can file a medical malpractice claim to recover compensation for your injuries. Money will never undo the terrible wrong that you have suffered, but it can reimburse you for your financial losses and compensate you for your pain and suffering.
A medical malpractice lawsuit also serves as a warning to other medical professionals that they must use extreme care when caring for patients. You deserve the same standard of care from your medical providers as they would want for themselves in a similar situation.
Contact the California medical malpractice attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm by telephone at (916) 999-9000 or by visiting our website. Our law firm serves clients in Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, El Dorado Hills and other communities in the greater Sacramento area.
