How Common Are Surgical Errors?
Surgical errors are shockingly common in the U.S. According to commonly cited data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), there are more than 4,000 preventable surgical errors in hospitals and other healthcare facilities nationwide every year. These types of cases account for the majority of hospital malpractice claims (with delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis comprising the majority of outpatient-related medical malpractice cases).
The NCBI also reports that some of the most common surgical errors including operating on the wrong body part, as well as complications involving robotic surgery. However, data suggest that most surgical errors are made before and after surgery, rather than in the operating room. Failure to obtain informed consent, poor pre-operation procedures, and negligent aftercare may all constitute “surgical errors” and can serve as grounds for litigation.
