Surgical Safety Checklist Protects Patients From Surgical Errors
There are risks involved with any surgery, no matter what the body part, type of anesthesia to be used, or nature of the procedure. Unfortunately, these risks can be exacerbated or even caused by surgical errors. You might be surprised how often these mistakes occur, but statistics indicate that there are more than 4,000 errors committed by surgeons annually. Almost 60% of patients will experience temporary harm, which can still be devastating. The remaining 40% of individuals may suffer from permanent injuries or death because of surgical errors.
To prevent these mistakes, physicians and surgical specialists in the medical community have created a checklist for surgical safety. These are the protocols that teams should follow before they even walk into the OR and rules for, during, and after the procedure. Failure to follow the checklist increases the potential for negligent acts, so you should discuss concerns with an Alaska medical malpractice lawyer. You might also benefit from reviewing checklist items and how noncompliance could be grounds for a legal claim.
Surgical Safety Checklist
The guidelines separate the safety steps into three time periods surrounding the surgical procedure:
- Sign-In: There are some tasks to conduct before anesthesia is administered and while you are still coherent. The surgeon will confirm your identity and go over the forms you signed indicating your informed consent. You will also be asked about the basics of the surgical site and procedure.
- During the Procedure: You will not be aware if you are under general anesthesia, but the surgical team will continue with its checklist. They will carefully account for surgical instruments and devices as well as proper sanitation.
- Sign-Out: Before you are released out of the OR, the surgeon and team will go over another checklist as a wrap-up. They will count all items that were used or inserted and track them against the earlier list of surgical instruments, sponges, and devices.
Departures from the Checklist
The description above is very general, and there are numerous, very detailed items that surgeons use for the safety checklist. The practice has become standardized in the medical field, so not following these guidelines may constitute medical malpractice. Specifically, under Alaska law, health care providers can be held accountable when they depart from the standard of care. A checklist used by surgeons across many surgical specialty areas is certainly setting the standard that your own physician should meet.
If your surgeons deviated from the standard of care by not following the safety checklist, you may qualify to recover for:
- Medical costs to treat your injuries from a surgical error;
- Lost wages for the time you missed work;
- Pain and suffering; and,
- Emotional distress.
Reach Out to Our Alaska Medical Malpractice Attorneys
If you or a loved one suffered injuries because of a surgical error, contact Power & Power Law to learn more about your legal options. We can explain in more detail after reviewing your circumstances, so call 907-222-9990 or visit our website to schedule a free consultation at our offices in Anchorage, Alaska.