No matter what type of surgery you have, human error is always a risk. Even a relatively simple procedure can result in serious complications if a doctor fails to deliver the appropriate level of care before, during, or after the surgery.

If you have been injured by a doctor’s or surgeon’s mistake, the surgical error lawyers at LawMD can help. Many of our lawyers are also doctors, and we use that medical and legal background to stand up for patients who have been injured due to a doctor’s carelessness or a hospital’s negligence.

Surgical mistakes can occur during any surgical procedure, whether you’re having a triple bypass or a tonsillectomy. They also happen in a variety of settings, from in-office procedures and urgent care centers to emergency rooms and operating suites. Surgical mistakes occur in a range of circumstances; however, there are some situations that tend to happen with more frequency than others.

Some common causes of surgical errors include:

• Inexperience: Most people are taught from an early age to trust doctors. Physicians are revered for their knowledge, education, and commitment to helping people. However, they are still human, and no doctor is an expert at every procedure. A doctor’s inexperience can lead to mistakes, especially when a doctor is determined to try a new technique or procedure despite lacking the skill or training hours to perform it properly.
• Improper preoperative procedures: Surgeries are meticulously planned events—and for good reason. Even a small mistake, such as a missed allergy or failure to check for drug interactions, can be disastrous. When doctors and their teams fail to observe the proper protocol, they can make serious missteps.
• Miscommunication: Communication is key in any medical setting, whether you’re in a doctor’s office or an operating room. The medical professionals on duty must operate as a team. When communication errors happen, patients can be seriously injured. Depending on the type of surgery being performed, the average patient may deal with a dozen or more medical professionals, with each one making notes or recording information in the patient’s chart. A single mistake during charting or patient care can be devastating.
• Doctor fatigue: Many doctors work long hours. Depending on their area of practice, they may be called in during late nights or early mornings to perform emergency procedures. A lack of sleep can throw anyone off their game. When surgeons function on too little rest, they can make catastrophic errors.
• Substance abuse: Being a doctor is a demanding and stressful job. Sadly, some doctors turn to drugs or alcohol to relieve the strain. The problem is that substance abuse impairs a person’s judgment, motor skills, reaction time, and ability to reason. Researchers at the University of Washington published a report stating that 15 percent of surgeons have an alcohol problem. The report also found that surgeons who admitted to abusing alcohol were 45 percent more likely to admit to making a major medical mistake within the past three months.
• Distractions: Doctors are human beings, and they deal with the same relationship problems, work conflicts, and personal issues as anyone else. In some cases, problems at home or work can spill over into their professional life—with patients paying the price.