Surgeries Often Involve Errors Related to Drugs in Pittsburgh, PA
A study conducted a couple of years ago found that a high number of surgeries include drug-related errors. In fact, the study found that nearly 50 percent of all surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital had at least one drug error. Experts feel that this number could be higher at other hospitals across the country. Errors related to medication administered during surgical procedures can lead to adverse reactions to the drugs, serious injury, and even death. Contact our experienced surgical malpractice medication error attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC today for a consultation.
Statistics from the Study
The study conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital was conducted between 2013 and 2014. Researchers conducting the study observed 277 surgeries performed during this timeframe at the hospital and discovered that there were 124 surgeries that included at least one drug error. In one-third of the 124 surgeries with a drug error there was harm caused to the patient. Three of the incidents were labeled as life-threatening but there were no fatalities. Massachusetts General Hospital is viewed as the best hospital in the country, which leads researchers to believe that the numbers regarding drug errors during surgery are much worse at other hospitals.
Common Errors Involving Drugs in Pennsylvania Hospitals
According to the study, the most common errors involving drugs include the following:
- Errors with medication dosages
- Labeling mistakes for medications
- Medications needed by patients were not administered
The medications found to be involved in these observed drug errors during surgical procedures include the following:
- Propofol: sedation drug administered during surgery
- Phenylephrine: medication given to a patient to increase their blood pressure
- Fentanyl: medication used to control pain of the patient
Injuries Stemming from Drug Errors
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides the following common injuries that can be caused by drug errors that happen during surgery:
- Renal failure
- Difficulty breathing
- Rashes
- Allergic reactions
- Swelling
- Respiratory failure
- Heart arrhythmia
- Hypoglycemia
- Change in mental state
- Blood loss
- Excessive bleeding
- Vomiting and nausea
- Hypertension
This is just a sample of the injuries a patient can suffer if they are exposed to a drug error during a surgical procedure. The most tragic of injuries is death, which cannot be ruled out in any instance of a surgical drug error case.
Recovering Compensation for Drug Errors in Butler, PA
Drug errors during surgical procedures can wind up changing your life in an instant. You might have been undergoing an outpatient surgery or a major surgery; either way, you will notice a difference in how you live following such an issue. Depending on the extent of your injuries you might wind up missing extended time at work. Missing work will put you behind in paying your monthly bills, medical expenses will pile up, and you could easily go into debt by not being able to bring home a paycheck.
Victims of drug errors that occurred during surgery can work to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
Should the victim of the drug error die due to their injuries, their surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation for the lost wages of their loved one, the medical expenses, the loss of consortium, the pain and suffering and much more.
Contact a Cranberry Township Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Surgical Malpractice Medication Error Case in Pennsylvania
Were you or a loved one injured due to medical malpractice in Pennsylvania? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Erie surgical malpractice medication error attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout Pennsylvania, including Greensburg, Indiana, New Castle and Uniontown. Call us today at 412-471-4300 or email us to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 310 Grant Street Suite 720 Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.