Few medical errors are as shocking or as preventable as wrong-site surgery. Imagine preparing for a procedure, only to wake up and realize your doctor operated on the wrong body part, the wrong side of your body, or, in some cases, performed the wrong procedure altogether. These mistakes are known in the medical field as “never events”, errors so serious they should never happen.
How Often Does It Happen?
You might assume wrong-site surgeries are rare, but the numbers tell a different story.
- National studies estimate wrong-site surgeries occur in 0.09 to 4.5 per 10,000 operations. With millions of procedures performed each year, this translates to hundreds, if not thousands, of cases annually.
- The Joint Commission reported that in 2022, wrong-site surgeries made up 6% of all sentinel events, which are the most serious hospital safety events.
- Alarmingly, 2023 saw a 26% increase in wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-patient surgery reports.
The Real-Life Impact
The consequences can be life-altering:
- Correcting the mistake often requires additional surgeries, causing more pain, extended recovery, and higher medical costs.
- Emotional trauma, including fear, anxiety, and distrust in the medical system, is common.
Why It Happens
Even with strict protocols in place, wrong-site surgeries often result from:
- Miscommunication among medical staff
- Failure to follow surgical checklists
- Inaccurate patient records or charting errors
- Pressure to rush through procedures in high-volume hospitals
What Victims Can Do
At Baron, Herskowitz & Cohen, we believe patients should never have to bear the burden of such preventable errors. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future care needs.
If you or a loved one has experienced a wrong-site surgery, contact our team today for a free consultation. We will fight to hold negligent hospitals and surgeons accountable.
