Waking up from surgery to find your doctor operated on the wrong knee is a nightmare. Maybe they removed the wrong organ or worked on the wrong side of your body.
Medical professionals call these errors “never events” because they should never happen, and yet they continue to do so. Wrong-site surgeries can cause serious harm and force you to undergo more operations to fix the problem.
Why these errors should never happen
Many safety checks exist to prevent wrong-site surgeries. When medical teams follow the rules, operating on the wrong body part becomes almost impossible. Here’s what should happen before any surgery:
- Pre-operative verification: The surgical team checks your identity and the planned procedure. They review your medical records and imaging to confirm the correct surgical site.
- Surgical site marking: Your surgeon marks the correct location on your body with a permanent marker. This happens while you are awake so you can confirm the site.
- Time-out procedure: Right before surgery begins, the entire team stops. They verify they have the right patient, the right procedure and the right body part.
When these steps fail, devastating mistakes can occur. Each team member should speak up if something looks wrong. These protocols exist for your safety.
Steps you can take after a wrong-site surgery
You have specific rights after this type of error. Writing down what happened helps protect you. Take these actions soon:
- Get your complete medical records from the hospital and surgeon
- Write down everything you remember about talks with medical staff
- Get medical treatment to fix the error
- Don’t sign any papers without careful review
Idaho law gives you two years from the injury date to pursue medical malpractice claims. Talking with someone who knows these cases may help you. They can tell you if your surgery shows a clear break from proper medical care. Focus on your recovery first. Then explore your options for addressing this serious safety breach.