In the past year, doctors removed a cancer patient’s healthy kidney and left the cancerous kidney inside her body. Doctors in California removed the appendix from the wrong patient, and an experienced surgeon operated on the wrong side of a patient’s body. With all of the advancements in medical and surgical technology, preventable medical mistakes are needlessly injuring patients.
Surprisingly, the majority of states do not require doctors to report surgical errors. As a result, an accurate count of surgical negligence is not possible. However, there are simple steps you can take to put your mind at ease before you undergo a surgical procedure.
· Make sure the doctor and his or her staff know who you are and what type of surgery you are having.
· Do not be afraid to ask your doctor about his or her experience.
· Make sure the doctor marks the site beforehand on your body – some surgeons sign their initials on the site before the surgery.
Doing some of the above steps might appear to offend the doctors and nurses. Do not worry about that. There is nothing wrong with being your own advocate when it comes to avoiding medical malpractice.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans medical malpractice lawyers