When a healthcare professional fails to provide a standard level of care and causes injury or harm to a patient, it is termed medical negligence. Surgeons, like other healthcare professionals, can be held liable for medical negligence if they fail to provide a standard level of care to their patients. Contact Boston personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for their negligent conduct. 

Here are some common acts of medical negligence observed in surgeons in the United States.

  1. Surgical errors

One of the most common medical negligence observed in surgeons is surgical error. This can include performing the wrong surgery on a patient, performing surgery on the wrong body part, or leaving surgical instruments inside a patient after surgery. Surgeons have to perform surgery accurately and take appropriate measures to prevent errors. If a surgical error occurs and the patient is injured, the surgeon may be liable for medical negligence.

  • Failure to obtain informed consent

Informed consent is when a healthcare professional explains a treatment or procedure to a patient, and the patient agrees to undergo the treatment or procedure. Surgeons must obtain informed consent from their patients before performing any treatment or procedure. If a surgeon fails to obtain an informed consent or if the patient is not fully informed about the treatment or procedure, the surgeon may be liable for medical negligence.

  • Anesthetic errors

Anesthetic errors, such as administering the wrong dosage or failing to monitor a patient’s vital signs during surgery, can also be medical negligence. Surgeons have a duty to use anesthetics safely and appropriately, and to monitor patients closely during surgery. If an anesthetic error occurs and the patient is injured, the surgeon may be liable for medical negligence.

  • Failure to diagnose or treat a medical condition

Another common medical negligence observed in surgeons is the failure to diagnose or treat a medical condition. This can include failing to identify the presence of a medical condition, such as cancer, or failing to provide appropriate treatment for the condition. Surgeons must diagnose and treat medical conditions promptly and refer patients to specialists when necessary. If a surgeon fails to do so and the patient’s condition worsens, the surgeon may be liable for medical negligence.

  • Misdiagnosis

Misdiagnosis is another common act of medical negligence observed in surgeons. This can occur when a surgeon misdiagnoses a medical condition, such as mistaking cancer for benign growth or mistaking a heart attack for indigestion. Misdiagnosis can result in inappropriate treatment or a delay in treatment, leading to further harm to the patient. Surgeons must diagnose medical conditions accurately and provide appropriate treatment and may be liable for medical negligence if they misdiagnose a patient’s condition.