Wrong-Site Surgery: How These Preventable Errors Still Happen
Wrong-site surgery is one of the most serious and preventable medical errors that can occur in a healthcare setting. Despite strict safety protocols designed to prevent these mistakes, patients across the United States continue to suffer life-changing injuries when surgeons operate on the wrong body part, the wrong side of the body, or even the wrong patient.
If you or a loved one has experienced this type of medical negligence, a medical malpractice attorney in Reading from Fanelli, Evans & Patel, P.C., can help you understand your legal rights and options.
What Is Wrong-Site Surgery?
Wrong-site surgery occurs when a medical professional performs a procedure on the incorrect location of a patient’s body or on the wrong patient altogether. These incidents are considered “never events,” meaning they are preventable errors that should never happen when proper safety procedures are followed. Common examples of wrong-site surgery include:
- Operating on the wrong limb, organ, or body part
- Performing a procedure on the wrong patient
These mistakes can occur due to communication failures, inaccurate medical records, scheduling errors, systemic issues like understaffing, inadequate patient verification procedures, or a failure to follow established surgical safety checklists.
Why Do Wrong-Site Surgeries Still Happen?
Modern surgical centers are required to follow strict safety protocols designed to prevent wrong-site surgeries. These safeguards are intended to create multiple layers of verification so that errors are corrected before an incision is made. One of the most widely used safeguards is the “Universal Protocol.”
Before surgery begins, the care team is expected to confirm the patient’s identity using at least two identifiers, review the scheduled procedure, and ensure that all medical records, imaging, and consent forms match the planned operation. The surgeon is typically responsible for marking the correct surgical site while the patient is still awake whenever possible, and this marking is meant to be verified by the entire surgical team.
Hospitals also conduct a formal “time-out” immediately before the procedure starts, during which every member of the team must pause to confirm the correct patient, procedure, and surgical site.
During the operation, additional safeguards are used to maintain accuracy and patient safety. Despite these protocols, errors can still occur when verification steps are rushed, skipped, or improperly documented. Miscommunication between staff can further increase the risk, particularly in high-pressure environments where procedures are scheduled closely together or involve multiple teams.
When these safety measures are not properly followed, the risk of a wrong-site surgery increases significantly, often resulting in preventable harm to the patient. If you or someone you love was a victim of wrong-site surgery, contacting an attorney as soon as possible is key to protecting your rights.
Seek Counsel From Our Experienced Reading Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Trying to take on a legal case on top of your recovery process can quickly become overwhelming. Speaking with a medical malpractice lawyer in Reading, PA, may be the first step toward protecting your rights and pursuing accountability. Contact Fanelli, Evans & Patel, P.C., online today or by calling 570-622-2455. Let our skilled team take care of your case so you can focus on your well-being.