If your doctor suggests a surgical procedure to address an injury or illness, you must carefully consider the pros and cons. In addition to the risks associated with every type of surgery, there’s something else to keep in mind: A medical professional could make an error that puts you at risk.
There are many types of surgical errors, including but not limited to:
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Failure to diagnose a dangerous condition during the procedure
- Leaving a foreign object, such as an instrument, inside your body
- Failure to address complications in an effective manner
- Anesthesia errors, such as administering too much or not enough of the drug
- Failure to monitor vital signs during the procedure
If you awake from surgery and learn that an error has complicated your situation, here’s what you need to do:
- Discuss your concerns with your surgeon: They can tell you what went wrong, why it happened and what you should do next.
- Get a second opinion: It’s safe to assume that you won’t be comfortable putting all your trust in the surgeon who already made a dangerous mistake. This is why you want to consult with another medical professional.
- Learn more about your legal rights: Your health and future well-being is the top priority, but you must also consider the impact of the surgical error. You may be in a position to seek compensation for the mistake.
When you consent to surgery, you hope that everything goes as planned. If this doesn’t happen, learn more about what went wrong, the next steps regarding your health and how you can protect your legal rights.