Surgeons Under Stress Make More Mistakes While Operating; Study Says

Undergoing surgery can be a scary experience. Patients expect to receive competent care from their surgeons and assisting nurses but, sadly, this does not always happen. If you have suffered an injury because of what you believe to be a surgeon’s error or negligence, it is important to understand your rights. At Arfaa Law Group, our Baltimore surgery malpractice attorneys will examine the circumstances surrounding your injury and advise you accordingly. You can take comfort in knowing that we will handle your case diligently and compassionately.

The Study

Medical mistakes cause between 250,000- 440,000 deaths every year in the U.S., with a number of those mistakes taking place in the operating room. A recently published study conducted by Columbia University highlights that in moments of high stress in the operating room (OR), surgeons make up to 66 percent more errors on patients. Utilizing technology that measured the electrical activity of a surgeon’s heart, researchers discovered that during periods of short-term stress such as those caused by a bad thought or loud noise in the OR, surgeons are more likely make errors that can lead to bleeding, torn tissue or burns. The results could help develop future protocol designed to reduce acute short-term stress on surgeons while they are performing procedures.

Suing for Surgery Malpractice

Sadly, surgery errors are some of the most common types of medical errors out there. If you have been hurt due to a surgical error, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm through a surgery malpractice lawsuit. Surgery malpractice occurs when a surgeon injures a patient by failing to follow the accepted standard of care (i.e., the level of care met by those with similar training and experience). The standard of care is determined on a case-by-case basis since it depends on a number of factors such as the patient’s age and medical history as well as the surgery being performed.

It is important to note that a malpractice claim can be an act of omission or commission. An example of an act of omission could include something like missing a certain step that is needed to prep a patient before injury, whereas an act of commission could include something like leaving an instrument inside a patient during surgery or operating on the wrong body part. Both types of malpractice can lead to serious and long-term harm. In the most serious cases, surgical malpractice can lead to death.

Skilled Baltimore Surgery Malpractice Attorneys

Being affected by a surgical error can be a nightmare. If you or someone close to you has been injured due to a surgeon’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our highly skilled Baltimore surgical malpractice attorneys understand how stressful dealing with a surgical error can be, which is why we are here to help. Our team is committed to providing aggressive advocacy in all Maryland medical malpractice cases. We understand you that you probably have many questions, which is why we encourage you to call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.

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