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Equipment Failures Result In Large Number Of Surgical Errors

July 31, 2013

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July 31, 2013

Each year, thousands of Americans are injured as the result of medical errors made by physicians and their staff. Many of these accidents lead to Medical Malpractice Claims being filed against the responsible parties, which can prove to be quite costly.

Many are working to find ways to reduce the number of mistakes that occur, but the first step to preventing an injury is understanding its causes. One recent study found that nearly one-quarter of all surgical errors that lead to a serious injury are the result of an equipment failure.

The study was published in a recent issue of BMJ Quality & Safety. Researchers culled data from nearly 20,000 cases of surgical mistakes and found that 23.5 percent of the errors were caused by the malfunction of a piece of equipment or technology in the operating room. Another 37 percent of mistakes resulted from surgeons not having access to proper equipment for the procedure, while 43.4 percent of mistakes occurred because of improper configurations or settings on the equipment.

Experts say that better pre-op testing of equipment, along with better training and briefings for staff, will help reduce these types of mistakes in the future.

The Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers with Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy encourage anyone who has been harmed by an equipment failure during surgery to discuss legal options for compensation with a qualified attorney immediately.

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