How to Avoid Surgical Errors

Face lift leads to woman’s death, woman’s ulcer misdiagnosed as cancer, surgeon operated on wrong organ, boy gets wrong leg amputated…the list never ends. Recent headlines like the above have become very troubling for people undergoing surgery. However, statistics are hard to come by, because most states don’t require doctors to report surgical errors. There are things you can do to lower your chances of something like that from happening to you.

You may have to be a pain in the rear to your doctor or nurse, but you have to look out for yourself. Ask your doctor how many times they have performed the procedure you are looking into getting done and compare it with other physicians. Check out hospitals online - some sites rank hospitals by specialty. Tell everyone your name, date of birth and what surgery you are having done so they don’t mistake you for Suzy down the hall.

The American Academy of Orthopedic surgeons encourages its doctors to sign initials directly on the surgical site. Make sure no one besides your assigned surgeon is signing it. Confirm the site with the surgeon right before surgery and don’t go under the knife until it’s clearly verified. Have a friend help you by keeping them afloat on what’s going on since you will probably be nervous before the procedure and out of it afterwards. They can ask questions and try to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Plastic surgery is another story. By performing a procedure, the surgeon is stating that they have the education, training, and necessary skills to practice safely. They also have the responsibility to disclose all possible risks post surgery. Any careful surgeon will not perform surgery on a patient who has unreasonable expectations or shows signs of serious mental instability. Patients also need to know what they should do in preparation of and prior to the surgery – sometimes it means stop smoking or taking certain meds. To avoid risks, it is important to use a board certified plastic surgeon and be sure you feel comfortable and confident with the surgeon you choose.