The rise of surgical error rates has been a concern for medical health researchers dating as far back as the ‘80s. Despite the efforts of medical practitioners and advances in medical science and technology, it seems that the risk of surgical errors has not gone down over the decades. In fact, a new study that was published in the British Medical Journal suggests that surgical error rates might have stayed the same across the decades, which makes it feel like it has only gotten worse with time because it reasonably should have gotten better but didn’t.
Key findings of the recent surgical error study include:
- 38% of surgical patients experience a complication
- About 50% of all complications were serious or life-threatening
- About 25% of all complications were “potentially preventable”
- Another 10% of all complications were “definitely preventable”
- About 60% of adverse events were “potentially preventable”
- About 20% of adverse events were “definitely preventable”
The most common types of surgical errors identified by the researchers were, in this order:
- Errors that occurred during the surgery
- Medication errors after the surgery
- Healthcare-associated infections (hospital infections)
The risk of surgery complications seems to directly correlate with the age of the patient, with older patients being at a higher risk than younger patients. Furthermore, heart and lung operations had the highest rates of complications, followed by operations involving the digestive tract, bones, and joints.
Patient Data Used for the Study
The findings were based on the surgery outcomes experienced by more than 1,000 patients who were treated in 11 Massachusetts hospitals in 2018. The researchers explained that given the scope of their study and the reluctance for hospitals to participate in it, the data set was the most recent and most comprehensive that they could have used. With this in mind, the researchers are confident that the data is sound enough that it can be extrapolated and applied broadly, suggesting that the rates outlined above detail surgical errors nationwide.
Using the same dataset, researchers were able to also find holes in the systems that hospitals implement to catch adverse events and surgical errors before they become serious. The lead researcher, Dr. David Bates of Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, estimated that adverse events were identified in roughly 5% of cases.
Answering Surgical Errors with Legal Action
The study published by the British Medical Journal sheds light on a serious concern that doesn’t have a clear solution. If surgical error rates have not decreased as medical technology and understanding have improved over the last 40 years, what will it take to finally see that rate drop? To the researchers, it’s not clear what needs to happen, but it is obvious that something must.
In the meantime, legal action has always remained as an answer to surgical errors and a way to send a message to medical providers and hospital groups. Although some states make filing a medical malpractice lawsuit more challenging than others, it is important for anyone who was hurt by preventable surgical errors to at least discuss their options with a professional attorney. Sometimes, powerful entities like healthcare providers are only compelled to make positive changes when doing nothing would hurt their profit margins.
Do you live in Ohio and were hurt by surgical negligence, either as a patient or as the loved one of someone who passed away from surgical errors? The Becker Law Firm wants to hear your story. Our medical malpractice attorneys have been fighting for the wrongfully injured for more than a century of collective experience. We would be honored to stand up for your rights as an injured surgical patient, just as we have done for countless others.
Discuss your legal options with our medical malpractice team. Call (440) 252-4399 and ask for a free consultation at one of our many law offices across Ohio.