Surgical errors are common and can lead to serious injury or death. In an article in the medical journal Neurosurgery that reported on a study of 1108 elective neurosurgical procedures, a neurosurgeon recorded 2684 errors in 87.1% of the cases. 22.6% of the errors were considered major. 78.5% of the errors were deemed preventable.

The number of recorded major errors in these cases is staggering. During 1108 elective (not necessary) neurosurgical procedures, there were 606 major errors. When major surgical errors lead to serious injury, patients are usually faced with additional medical expenses and loss of income due to the need to take time off of work or the loss of a job. There are also pain and suffering and emotional distress issues. Compensation for these “damages” is called “compensatory damages.”

In neurosurgery error cases, it is important to have a medical malpractice attorney who has had experience with highly complex medical cases. In many cases, hospitals and surgeons will not admit the error, and it will be up to the attorney to prove the error, that it led to the injuries, and that the patient should be fairly compensated for all past and future damages. Even if an error is admitted, the attorneys for the hospitals and doctors will make every argument possible to avoid liability (having to compensate the patient).

To contact a medical malpractice attorney at Pritzker | Ruohonen, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.

Source: S. Stone and M. Bernstein, “Prospective error recording in surgery: an analysis of 1108 elective neurosurgical cases,” Neurosurgery, June 2007, 60 (6): 1075-80; discussion 1080-82.