Patients who undergo medical procedures often have anxiety and fears over potential complications that may arise. The last thing most patients think about, however, is whether or not they will be one of the unlucky patients to suffer a medical error. A recent study released by Johns Hopkins University proves that medical errors occur with far more frequency than previously believed, especially those involving foreign surgical objects.
According to researchers, roughly 2,000 patients suffer each year as a result of surgical objects left inside their bodies after surgery. Often, the existence of such a foreign surgical object is not noticed by a patient until an infection or tissue mass appears around the object. Some patients suffer for weeks, months or even years with adverse side-effects of such an egregious medical mistake.
While operating rooms around the country and in states like Ohio have measures in place aimed to account for all surgical materials used in procedures, these measures are not fool-proof. One of the most popular safety measures instituted by operating personnel is to count all surgical objects both prior to and after a surgical procedure. While using this type of identification checklist has helped reduce instances of foreign objects left inside patients' bodies, these types of errors still occur with far too much frequency.
One 21-year-old man, who was treated for a gun-shot wound, had a surgical sponge left inside his body near his kidney. The gunshot accident left the young man paralyzed from the waist down. In the three years following the operation, the man suffered unexplained pain and frequent bladder infections. While doctors attempted to treat the man's symptoms, one doctor finally detected an odd mass in the man's body while performing a CT scan.
A surgical sponge had been in the man's body for nearly three years and caused a massive infection. After undergoing emergency surgery to remove the foreign object, the man suffered an additional six weeks of painful recovery time.
Individuals or family members of individuals impacted by surgical or medical errors would be wise to consult with a legal professional. In many cases, medical errors are the result of the negligent acts of a hospital, doctor or nurse. Individuals who have suffered harm and injury as a result of medical negligence have rights and are entitled to just compensation for their injury, pain and suffering.
Source: Los Angeles Times, "Medical field works to reduce number of surgical mistakes," Anna Gorman, Dec. 23, 2013