Wrong site surgery occurs when surgery is performed on the wrong side of a patient’s body, on the wrong body part, or on the wrong portion of the correct body part. Wrong site surgery also includes performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong patient. While these errors seem unthinkable, approximately one case is reported every five days in Pennsylvania, with the total number of cases in the United States estimated to be 5 to 10 per day. The results of wrong site surgery can be devastating for a patient and his or her loved ones. Patients who suffer wrong site surgery may face a lifetime of disability, chronic health problems and the risks associated with additional surgeries, including blood clots, anesthesia errors and infection. Wrong site surgery can be fatal in some cases. Common forms of wrong site surgery include performing surgery on the wrong side of the body, the wrong portion of the spine, the wrong organ (including removing the wrong organ) or the wrong limb or appendage (including amputating the wrong limb/appendage). Such errors may be the result of emergency surgery, inadequate pre-surgical planning, poor communication among physicians and staff members, involving multiple surgeons or performing multiple surgeries during one surgical session.
If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered serious injury as a result of wrong site surgery, it is imperative to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. At Scartelli Olszewski, our skilled PA personal injury lawyers counsel and represent medical malpractice victims and their loved ones in a wide range of matters. We can help you determine whether you should pursue a wrong site surgery claim, and if so, seek all of the compensation to which you are entitled under the law.
At Scartelli Olszewski, our medical negligence attorneys in Pennsylvania strive to secure maximum recoveries for victims of wrong site surgery and their families. Our experienced injury lawyers have advocated on behalf of injured patients and wrongful death claimants in state and federal courts, and alternative dispute resolution forums such as arbitrations and mediations. We conduct thorough investigations and carefully prepare complex medical malpractice cases to obtain the best possible results for our clients. We encourage you to contact us today at (877) 353-0529.
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Commonly Asked Questions In Medical Malpractice Cases - March 10, 2011
