Virginia Malpractice News » Operate on Wrong Body Part

“Do You Believe Wrong Site Surgery Should Never Happen?”

Ben Glass — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:19:10 +0000

Here’s an exchange from a recent deposition involving surgery at the wrong site.

Q: “Do you believe wrong site surgery should never happen?”

A: I think we do everything we can do to minimize risk of things like that, but I don’t believe the world is perfect, no.

Q: But would you argree that, we both know it happens..wrong people get operated on, wrong organs get removed, but my question to you is different. Don’t you agree is should never happen?

A: I answered the question

Q: Then your answer is that it should happen?

A: maybe the court reporter can read back the answer. [court reporter read back answer, above]

“Universal Protocol” – Use it and prevent Wrong Site Surgeries

Ben Glass — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:52:21 +0000

5th Wrong Site Surgery at Same Hospital in 2 Years

Ben Glass — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:50:24 +0000

Wrong site surgery is a “never should happen” event. One hospital managed to do it 5 times in the last two years. Here’s a video report.

Doctor Who Operated on Wrong Side of Body Denies Mapractice

Ben Glass — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:27:08 +0000

We have previously written about the Fredericksburg orthopedic surgeon who operated on the wrong body part, admitted as much in his medical records but who (through his insurance company) then said “I didn’t do anything at all wrong.”

Now his attorneys have filed an answer to the Complaint. They admit that the medical records accurately reflect what we said they did in the complaint, but, again, they say “the doctor didn’t do anything wrong.”

Here’s my question: is this frivolous or just “good defending”?

Fredericksburg Surgeon Sued for Failing to Mark Operative Site

Ben Glass — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:52:04 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

A lawsuit filed in the Circuit Court for the City of Fredericksburg alleges that an orthopedic surgeon who was to operate to remove a cyst on the back of a woman’s shoulder, forgot where the cyst was located and operated on the front of the shoulder, allegedly causing unnecessary scarring and disfigurement.

The lawsuit alleges that the surgeon failed to take appropriate steps to mark the surgical site and then failed to awaken the patient and stop the surgery once he realized that he couldn’t remember where he was supposed to operate.

Remarkably, the surgeon’s medical malpractice insurance company took the position that the surgeon did no wrong and denied the patient’s attempt to settle the case.

More information about the Fredericksburg surgeon who has been sued is here.

Surgeon Operates on Wrong Level, Case Settled

Ben Glass — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:04:35 +0000

According to published reports, Charlottesville attorney Lee Livingston has settled a case against an othopedic surgeon who did back surgery, but operated at the wrong level. This, of course, necessitated a brand new surgery. The case reportedly settled for $350,000.

Its amazing that in 2009, doctors are still operating on the wrong part of the body. Isn’t that what they made CT and MRI scans for?

Remember, each case is different. Your case is unique and this settlement that Lee got for his client is not an indication of what you may receive. You should consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney in your area.

Ben Glass is the author of “Why Most Virginia Malpractice Victims Never Recover a Dime”