Tips to Avoid Wrong Site Surgery

Believe it or not, surgeons sometimes operate on the wrong thing. Patients have been mixed up with one another. Other times, surgeons just get confused about which part of the body is to be operated upon, mixing up the right leg for the left, for example. There are things you can do to minimize your chances of being victimized by confused surgeons or hospital staff.

Wrong site surgery happens. And it happens more often than you might think. One study reveals that 20% of hand surgeons admit to having operated on the wrong site at least once in their careers. There are simple things that you can do to avoid being the victim of wrong site surgery.

1. Make sure that you talk to your surgeon and you both explicitly understand EXACTLY what’s going to be done.
2. Ask to have the surgical site marked (perhaps with permanent marker) and make sure that you are included in the marking.
3. Consider marking off the wrong site. For example, if you’re to have surgery on your right knee, you might write WRONG KNEE – DON’T CUT! on your left.
4. Be involved and SPEAK UP! Patients who are actively involved in their own care have a statistically better chance of a better outcome.

For more information on what you can do to avoid being the victim of medical malpractice, see our article, “Seven Secrets to Avoid Being the Victim of a Medical Mistake.”

Purchase, George & Murphey Represents People Injured in Pennsylvania Wrong Site Surgeries

If you have been injured or lost a loved one because of a wrong site surgery, then you need experienced Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyers to represent you.

Eric Purchase and Tim George are experienced Erie attorneys who can represent you from the initial investigation of your wrong site surgery to the resolution of your case. Contact us now at 814-273-2010 for a free consultation.