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Can You Protect Yourself from Wrong-Site Surgery?

Oct 31, 2018 | Firm News, Medical Malpractice

When your health care provider in Indiana recommends surgery as a solution for your treatment, one of the first concerns you may have is regarding pain levels and recovery. However, while these topics are essential to address, it is also imperative that you are familiar with tactics to keep yourself safe from surgical errors. Because your surgeon is performing lots of surgeries on many different patients, it is not entirely guaranteed that he or she will not make a mistake.

A common surgical error is when doctors perform a surgery or operation on the wrong body part. Protecting yourself from this completely preventable error requires you to be diligent in advocating your safety. According to the Patient Safety Authority, one of the best steps you can take is to ask someone you trust to accompany you to your surgery. The person you bring should be aware of the type of surgery you are getting and what will be happening. He or she should also be comfortable verbalizing their concerns if they are unsure of what is going on.

Your surgeon should use some type of marker to designate which area is to be operated on to prevent any mistakes from being made. However, if this has not been done, do not be afraid to request that it is. Additionally, verify with the surgical team that everyone has a mutual understanding of what is to happen during the surgery.

The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.

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