Surgical Error Lawyers Serving Rhode Island

Representing Victims of Surgical Malpractice

When surgical errors cause the wrongful injury or death of a patient, the responsible party should be brought to justice. Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C. has a long history of holding negligent surgeons, doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, hospitals, and healthcare facilities responsible for delivering substandard care.

Our Providence, Rhode Island surgical error attorneys have experience with these complex cases and have secured over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for the injured and wronged.

To learn more about our firm and how we can help with your case, call (401) 200-4059.

Types of Surgical Errors

Anesthesiologists, nurses, surgeons, and all other medical professionals involved in the preparation, performance, and aftercare of a surgical patient are held to a high standard when it comes to patient care.

They have earned degrees and licenses based on years of education and training, and they should always provide a standard level of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care. Any deviation from acceptable standards can have disastrous results for a patient.

Any surgery has inherent risks, but they should be understood by the patient and weighed against the potential benefits so he or she can make an informed choice about moving forward with the procedure.

If a healthcare professional makes a mistake or acts negligently at any point before, during, or after surgery, and a patient is injured as a result, this may provide grounds for a medical malpractice case.

Our attorneys have experience in surgical malpractice cases involving:

• Negligent postoperative care, leading to infection
• Drug or alcohol use by a nurse, surgeon, or anesthesiologist
• Operating on the wrong body part
• Performing the wrong procedure
• Lack of informed consent
• Anesthesia errors
• Leaving an object behind in a patient
• Plastic surgery malpractice

Common Causes of Surgical Errors

Surgical errors can occur due to various factors, some of which include:

• Communication breakdown – Miscommunication among surgical team members, such as unclear instructions or failure to convey critical information, can lead to errors during surgery.
• Fatigue and stress – Surgeons and other healthcare professionals may experience fatigue or high levels of stress during lengthy or complex surgeries, increasing the likelihood of errors.
• Lack of experience or training – Surgeons who lack sufficient experience or training in a particular procedure may be more prone to making mistakes during surgery.
• Equipment failure – Malfunctioning or improperly maintained surgical equipment can lead to errors, such as incorrect incisions or complications during procedures.
• Poor preoperative planning – Inadequate preoperative evaluation or planning can result in surgical errors, including incorrect patient positioning, failure to anticipate complications, or inadequate preparation for the procedure.
• Distractions in the operating room – External distractions or interruptions during surgery can divert the attention of surgical team members, increasing the risk of errors.
• Misidentification of surgical site – Failing to correctly identify the surgical site or marking it improperly can lead to wrong-site surgery or performing the procedure on the wrong patient.
• Inadequate staffing or resources – Insufficient staffing levels or resources in the operating room can contribute to errors, as healthcare professionals may be overwhelmed or unable to perform their duties effectively.
• Time pressures – Pressure to complete surgeries quickly, either due to scheduling constraints or the urgency of the patient's condition, can lead to rushed decisions and errors.
• Poor teamwork – Dysfunction within the surgical team, such as lack of coordination or conflicts among team members, can impair communication and collaboration, increasing the likelihood of errors.
• Failure to follow protocols – Deviating from established surgical protocols or guidelines increases the risk of errors, as these protocols are designed to ensure patient safety and minimize complications.
• Inadequate postoperative care – Errors can occur during the postoperative phase, such as improper wound care or failure to monitor patients closely for complications, leading to adverse outcomes.

Do I Have Grounds for a Lawsuit?

Surgical “never events,” as the name implies, represent devastating and preventable surgical events, which never should have happened to the patient. 

To be successful in a surgical malpractice case, the patient must prove that the patient’s physician deviated from the standard of care of a reasonably competent physician. Never events virtually always represent malpractice. Some surgical complications or incidents do not qualify as “never events” but still represent viable causes of action nonetheless. 

As a firm that has represented many individuals and families who have fallen victim to never events, and other surgical complications, we have extensive experience investigating the facts of a particular surgical complication, and then making a recommendation about whether or not to proceed with a lawsuit.

It is important to note that you always have the right to bring a civil lawsuit even though you signed a surgical consent form. Many people believe that a surgical consent form, which identifies some surgical complications, somehow eliminates their right to bring a civil lawsuit later on. That is not accurate.

If you believe that you or a family member has been the victim of a surgical error, the attorneys at Decof, Mega & Quinn, P.C. are available to meet and speak with you about your case. For many, just getting answers about what caused their surgical complication(s) can be gratifying.

Call our Providence, RI surgical error lawyers at (401) 200-4059 for a free consultation.