There are risks inherent in every surgery and the potential for serious, unavoidable, complications exist.  Unfortunately, the potential for serious avoidable complications also exists.  In fact, it has been 10 years since the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article finding preventable medical errors to be one of the most common causes of death in the United States.* 

Surgical errors are common types of medical errors that can have catastrophic effects.  Thus, it is important for every candidate for surgery to understand the risks of:

• Wrong Site Surgeries: despite current computer systems and checks and balances, surgeries are still performed on the wrong patient and on the wrong part of the patient each year.

• Infections:  surgical sites that are closed with equipment still in the patient, surgical wounds that are not properly closed or dressed, and non-sterile operating rooms can result in a preventable patient infection.
• Anesthesia Errors: too much anesthesia can have devastating effects that result in permanent disabilities or death.
  

For more information, please read our free report: Surgery Common Problems and Surgical Errors.

If you have been hurt by a surgical mistake, or if you have lost a loved one due to a surgical error, please contact an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice attorney at The Dover Law Firm for a free consultation.  We can be reached at 1.770.518.1133 or via our online form.

*Source:  The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Vol 284, No 4, July 26th 2000 article written by Dr Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH