What Is the Difference Between Surgical Errors and Surgical Complications?
Undergoing a surgical procedure is already stressful enough. The situation can get even more stressful if you experience an unexpected outcome. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for things to go wrong during or after a surgical procedure.
When patients wake up from their surgery feeling worse than before, they may wonder whether a surgical error or surgical complication is to blame for their current condition. Understanding the difference between surgical errors and surgical complications is crucial, especially if you are thinking about pursuing a medical malpractice claim.
What Are Surgical Complications?
Surgical complications are known risks that can occur even when the surgeon and their team adhere to all the accepted standards of care. These unexpected outcomes can occur during or after a surgical procedure despite thorough planning, skill, and sound medical judgment.
Some of the most common surgical complications include:
- Infections
- Excessive bleeding
- Blood clots
- Organ damage
- Nerve injury
- Adverse reactions to anesthesia, medications, or surgical materials
Before entering the operating room, patients are usually informed of the risks involved during the informed consent process. If a complication arises and the medical team acted reasonably and competently, it typically isn’t considered medical malpractice, even if the outcome is severe or life-altering.
What Are Surgical Errors?
Surgical errors arise when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure results in harm to the patient. Often, these errors are preventable and could give rise to a medical malpractice claim.
Examples of surgical errors include:
- Leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the patient
- Damaging organs or nerves due to careless technique
- Operating on the wrong body part or the wrong side
- Improper use or monitoring of anesthesia
- Performing the wrong procedure
- Medication errors, such as administering the wrong medication or incorrect medication dosage
The key difference between surgical complications and surgical errors is that while surgical complications are preventable, surgical errors are avoidable and often result from oversight or negligence within the surgical team or healthcare system.
Why Does the Difference Matter?
The main difference between a surgical complication and a surgical error is whether the surgeon and their team adhered to the appropriate standard of care. This difference is crucial because to have a valid medical malpractice case, the healthcare provider’s actions must have fallen below the acceptable standard of care. Simply because you experienced a bad outcome is not enough to warrant filing a medical malpractice claim.
How To Determine Whether You Experienced a Surgical Complication or Error
To understand exactly what went wrong, you should request copies of all your medical records pertaining to the surgical procedure. This may include the surgeons’ pre-operative notes, operative reports, post-operative care instructions, and test results.
After receiving your records, provide them to your medical malpractice attorney. Your attorney will have access to a medical expert who can assess your case and help determine whether or not the standard of care was violated.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you believe a surgical mistake may have caused you harm, speak with our skilled Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at Carroll Law Firm today to understand your rights and explore your legal options.
