Wrong Site Surgery
When a surgeon operates on the wrong body part or patient, the result is one of the most devastating forms of medical negligence imaginable. At Gloria Becker Law, our Raleigh medical malpractice lawyer helps victims and their families pursue justice for surgical errors that should never happen.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a wrong site surgery in North Carolina, you have legal options to seek compensation for your pain, lost income, and medical expenses.
Wrong Site Surgery and Medical Malpractice
Under North Carolina law, wrong site surgeries fall under the category of medical malpractice. This means a doctor-patient relationship existed, the medical professional failed to meet the accepted standard of care, and that failure directly caused injury or harm.
Establishing these four elements is critical in proving liability and recovering damages in your medical malpractice case for surgical errors.
Common Examples of Wrong Site Surgery
Wrong site surgeries are more common than most patients realize. Even highly trained medical doctors and staff can make devastating mistakes when protocols are not followed.
Examples include:
- Wrong Body Part: A surgeon operates on the wrong limb, organ, or side of the body. This often results in permanent injury or the need for additional corrective surgery.
- Wrong Patient: A hospital mix-up leads to a surgical procedure being performed on the wrong person, often due to poor communication or charting errors.
- Wrong Procedure: The surgeon performs a different operation than what was authorized, sometimes due to misidentification of the surgical site.
- Failure to Mark or Verify: The medical team fails to verify surgical markings or skips safety checklists before anesthesia is administered.
What to Do Following a Wrong Site Surgery in NC
If you or someone you love has suffered from a surgical mistake, immediate action is crucial. North Carolina medical malpractice laws include a statute of limitations that sets a strict time limit for filing a claim.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Your first priority should be addressing your injury and preventing further harm. Seek emergency medical treatment and obtain copies of your medical records for documentation.
Contact a North Carolina Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Once your health is stable, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney. A lawyer can review your medical history records, consult with medical experts, and determine whether negligence occurred.
Preserve All Evidence
Keep all documentation, including hospital discharge papers, photos of surgical sites, and communication with health care providers. This evidence will be essential to building your medical malpractice claim.
How Our Raleigh Attorney Litigates Wrong Site Surgery
At Gloria Becker Law, we understand how complex medical malpractice lawsuits can be. Our legal team works with medical experts to analyze every aspect of your surgical procedure and uncover how the doctor, nurses, or hospital failed to uphold their professional duty.
Investigating the Cause of the Surgical Error
We thoroughly investigate what went wrong—from pre-operative checklists and charting to the conduct of the surgeons and medical staff in the operating room. Identifying where the doctor failed or where poor communication occurred is key ensuring the responsible parties are held accountable.
Establishing Negligence
We demonstrate that the medical provider did not act with the same care that most doctors with similar training would have provided under the same circumstances. This helps show how the negligence directly caused harm through operating on the wrong surgical site.
Pursuing Compensation In Raleigh
Our firm helps victims seek compensation for losses that may include:
- Medical Expenses: Costs related to corrective surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment.
- Lost Income: Wages lost during recovery or inability to return to work.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
- Wrongful Death Damages: If the wrong site surgery resulting in the death of a loved one, the family may pursue a wrongful death claim.
Every medical malpractice claim is different, and damages vary depending on the severity of the injury and the impact on your life.
NC Wrong Site Surgery FAQs
How common are wrong site surgeries?
While rare, studies show that thousands of wrong site surgeries occur each year across the U.S. In North Carolina, these events are reportable and considered among the most severe forms of medical malpractice.
How do I know if I have a valid medical malpractice claim?
A medical malpractice lawyer from Gloria Becker Law can help you determine whether the doctor-patient relationship existed, whether the doctor failed to meet the standard of care, and whether that failure caused your injuries. Read our guide on what is considered medical malpractice to learn more.
What is the statute of limitations for wrong site surgery in North Carolina?
The statute of limitations for most medical malpractice claims in North Carolina is generally three years from the date of the injury, though exceptions may apply. It’s best to consult a wrong site surgery lawyer in Raleigh as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed on time.
Contact Our Raleigh Wrong Site Surgery Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been permanently injured due to a surgical error, medical mistake, or wrong site surgery, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. The medical profession holds a duty to protect patients—and when that trust is broken, victims deserve accountability.
Gloria Becker Law provides compassionate representation to help clients throughout North Carolina hold negligent medical professionals and hospitals responsible.Contact us today to schedule a consultation with a dedicated Raleigh wrong site surgery lawyer by calling 919-748-9400 or filling out our online contact form to get started.