Wrong site surgery (WSS) is preventable, yet surgeons and other medical providers still perform procedures on the wrong site, body part, or patient. Medical negligence often causes these mistakes, which can result in severe physical, emotional, and financial harm.
If you are a victim of a surgical error, state law may entitle you to payment for medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call our office to schedule your free consultation with an experienced wrong site surgery malpractice lawyer in Savannah. Our surgical errors attorneys will review your case and outline a path forward.
How Do Wrong Site Surgery Mistakes Occur?
Most WSS negligence results from communication failures, inadequate preoperative planning, or failure to follow safety protocols. Examples of the most common reasons these mistakes occur include:
- Communication breakdowns, such as misreading charts or a failure to communicate between team members
- Staff fatigue or distractions during surgery
- Notating the wrong surgical site during scheduling
- Incorrectly identifying the patient in imaging reports
- Reversed imaging reports
- Failing to adhere to safety protocols, such as skipping or rushing verifications before surgical procedures
- Neglecting to physically mark the surgical site correctly
- Bypassing standard procedures during high-volume emergencies
The National Library of Medicine classifies WSS as never events.
Never Events
Never events are severe, shocking, and completely preventable medical mistakes that should not occur in health care settings. These errors include surgery on the wrong site, leaving objects inside patients, or causing severe injuries that sometimes result in lifelong disabilities or death.
These events are easily identifiable and occur when staff fail to communicate effectively or follow procedures to protect patients. Our qualified WSS negligence legal team in Savannah understands the difficult situation that malpractice creates. Call us to investigate the cause of your injury and gather evidence to prove liability.
Liability for Surgical Malpractice
Multiple professional health care providers may be liable for WSS. Although the surgeon is the most obvious defendant, others may also be at fault, such as other surgical team members, treating physicians, or hospital employees.
Miscommunication between the surgeon and the surgical staff may cause them to operate on the wrong body part or site. Most medical facilities have procedures, policies, and protocols in place to minimize risks and prevent errors. When staff fail to follow these guidelines, they place you and all patients at risk of unnecessary harm.
Time Limits for Filing a Claim
State law sets a two-year deadline for filing a WSS lawsuit in most cases. However, if your injuries are not immediately known, the court may grant an extension based on the discovery rule, allowing the deadline to begin on the date you reasonably became aware of the medical errors.
A hard cap, known as the statute of repose, requires you to commence legal action within five years of the injury, regardless of the date of discovery. Our experienced Savannah WSS malpractice attorneys can handle all legal work and filings to ensure compliance with state rules and regulations.
Speak to a Skilled Savannah WSS Negligence Lawyer
Never events are the most serious type of medical malpractice. You have a right to seek legal and financial accountability for such errors. A settlement may cover your medical care costs, ongoing treatment expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact our office for a free consultation with a compassionate Savannah wrong site surgery malpractice lawyer. We can guide you through the process and work to secure fair compensation.
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