Are you aware of the risks you face during surgery? A new study found that roughly 50 percent of surgeries in the United States involve a medication error or side effects from the drugs you are given.
The study found that a third of these errors resulted in patient harm. This finding is serious. Patients need to be aware of the risks they face when having surgery. This study should help shine some light on an issue that was previously under reported.
Medication mistakes can be very harmful to patients and even contribute to their death. The study report some of the most common medication errors during surgery included:
- Drug labeling errors
- Incorrect doses
- Drug documentation errors
- Not properly treating patient’s vital signs
The researchers reported that a medication error or drug event occurred in 124 of 277 surgeries reviewed in their study.
Harm from these medication errors during surgery are preventable. Patients and medical professionals need to be aware of the risks during surgery. Surgical teams need to take steps to prevent these types of mistakes to keep their patients safe.
You have rights if you or a family member has been harmed by a surgical or medication error. You may be able to file a medical malpractice claim after medical negligence contributed to an adverse event.
Working with a medical malpractice attorney can help you understand your rights and take action against the medical professionals responsible for your injuries or complications.
Source: domain-b, “Medical errors in surgeries common: US study,” Oct. 28, 2015