Workers Compensation: Your Safety Net

When you go in for a medical procedure, you expect everything to go as planned. In most cases, that's exactly what happens.

Unfortunately, there are times when things go awry and end with catastrophic results. Wrong body parts get amputated or surgeries go horribly wrong. Here are some examples of the devastating results of medical malpractice.

Bypass Of The Wrong Artery

Arterial bypass surgery is a delicate procedure that requires exact precision. Comedian Dana Carvey entered the hospital in 2001. Due to the positioning of his arteries, the doctor performed the bypass on the wrong artery. Dana Carvey was not notified of the mistake until two months after the initial bypass.

If you're going to be having bypass surgery, have the doctor confirm the procedure before you're put under anesthesia. This will allow the doctor to have a fresh recollection of the side that will have the bypass procedure.

Transplant Using Incompatible Blood Type

When Jesica Santillan came to the United States from Mexico for treatment of a heart condition, her parents expected her to be restored to full health. Sadly, the doctors at Duke University Medical Center performed a heart and lung transplant using donor organs that were not from a compatible blood type. When doctors performed a second transplant, complications arose that lead to brain damage and the eventual death of Jesica.

In the case of organ transplants, there is little you can do to ensure that you receive a compatible organ since you will probably already be under anesthesia when the donor organ arrives. However, you can have a family member ask to confirm the blood type prior to the start of the operation.

Healthy Leg Amputated

Willie King was admitted to the University Medical Center to have his diseased leg amputated. The medical records were clear about which leg should be amputated. Unfortunately, once Mr. King was brought into the operating room, the surgical team prepped the wrong leg. As a result of that error, Mr. King had the wrong leg amputated.

One way to prevent this type of medical error is to have the doctor mark the correct body part with permanent marker while you're awake. This will ensure that the correct limb is operated on.

Anesthesia Not Properly Administered During Surgery

When Sherman Sizemore entered the hospital for exploratory surgery, he expected it to be a quick procedure to find the source of his stomach pain. Unfortunately, the anesthesiologist didn't administer the anesthetic on time and Mr. Sizemore was forced to endure the pain of the entire medical procedure.

To avoid this type of medical malpractice from happening to you, ask to have your brain activity monitored during surgery. By monitoring your brain activity, doctors are able to see the increase in activity before you endure an entire surgery without anesthesia.

In most cases, medical malpractice does not occur. Doctors, nurses and medical providers provide the appropriate care. However, when medical malpractice does occur, it can lead to devastating results. If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, you need to speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You may be have the right to obtain financial compensation for your pain and suffering.