Wrong site surgery is when the surgeon operates on the wrong body part or in the wrong place on the body. The medical negligence of wrong site surgery can harm the patient and could impact their life in the future.

In a case of wrong site surgery, the surgical team could replace the wrong knee, operate on the spleen instead of the gall bladder or replace the lens in the left instead of the right eye.

Every medical professional owes you a duty of care. If a surgeon breaches their duty of care by carrying out wrong site surgery, it could be medical negligence. The medical negligence may cost you in terms of extended stays in hospital and being unable to work, and you may even need long-term care and need to pay for it.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can take your case and help you make a medical negligence compensation claim* for wrong site surgery.

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What is a medical negligence claim for wrong site surgery?

A medical negligence claim for wrong site surgery is when you claim compensation for the effects of surgery on the wrong body part. You may suffer unnecessary pain and discomfort and even lose a limb due to wrong site surgery, and you could have a compensation claim.

In a recent survey, 13 cases of wrong site surgery were reported in Ireland, a rate of nearly five cases of this type of surgical negligence each year. Another 28 cases of near misses, where the wrong site surgery was only stopped just in time, have also been reported. Hospitals in Dublin, Cork and Limerick have had cases of wrong site surgery, with patients being in line for medical negligence compensation. 

A young boy having a healthy kidney removed, an elderly patient undergoing surgery on the wrong eye and doctors operating on the wrong arms, legs and hip joints are all cases of wrong site surgery in Ireland.

Patients may suffer for many years after medical negligence. You could need further medical treatment and extensive physical therapy, which all cost money and your time.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors can make a medical negligence compensation claim* for the effects of wrong site surgery.

Are You Eligible For Compensation?

If you want to obtain compensation for the negligence you have suffered contact us today.

Common claims for wrong site surgery

Common claims for wrong site surgery range from the operation on the wrong eye, the surgery on the left knee when the right knee needed replacing and making an incision on the wrong area of the stomach.

Patients can suffer trauma and pain and will have to have further surgery due to the surgical negligence by the medical professional. 

Types of medical negligence claims of wrong site surgery in Ireland:

Surgery on the wrong eye can be a medical negligence claim for wrong site surgery in Ireland. The ophthalmologist makes the error of doing surgery on the left eye instead of the right eye due to medical negligence.

Surgery to the wrong eye can happen:

  • When the eye surgeon does not read the patient notes 
  • When the surgical team preps the wrong patient
  • When the pre-surgery protocol is not followed

O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin can make a wrong site surgery claim* for the operation on the incorrect eye.

Surgery on the wrong shoulder happens when there is a breach of duty of care by the orthopaedic surgery team to the patient. There are several steps to be followed to avoid the Never Event of wrong site surgery, but it can happen due to medical negligence.

Types of wrong shoulder surgical negligence:

  • Surgery to repair a frozen shoulder on the left arm instead of the right
  • Surgery to repair the joint on the wrong shoulder
  • Surgery to repair nerve damage in the left shoulder when it should be the right

You may have a medical negligence claim for surgery on the wrong shoulder by the orthopaedic surgeon.

Any surgery on the wrong organ of the body could cause irreversible damage and may have a lifelong impact on the patient. There may be a need for further surgery to reverse the effects of the wrong site surgery, and the patient may be in hospital for a length of time.

Types of wrong site surgery on the wrong organ of the body:

  • Removing a gall bladder instead of doing bile duct surgery
  • Inserting a stent in the wrong artery 
  • Surgery on the bowel instead of the intestines

O’Brien & Company Solicitors can make your wrong site surgery claim* for compensation.

A medical negligence claim for surgery on the wrong vertebrae is another common compensation claim in Ireland. 

The surgeon, instead of doing corrective surgery on a vertebra, does it on another one, possibly causing severe results for the patient.

Surgery on the wrong vertebra happens when:

  • The wrong vertebra number is written into the notes
  • The surgical team identifies the wrong vertebra during prep
  • There is a mix-up in patient notes before surgery

Wrong vertebra surgery may cause lasting damage, and the patient may have a valid medical negligence claim for compensation.

Surgery on the wrong side of the brain could have life-changing implications, and the patient may still need to undergo further surgery to correct the surgical negligence.

Wrong site brain surgery may be irreversible, and the patient could suffer changes to personality and in their ability to carry out normal daily activities.

Wrong site brain surgery can happen:

  • When there are errors reading the brain scan
  • When the surgical team does not read the patient notes correctly
  • When the surgeon makes the error marking the patient for surgery

You may have a medical negligence claim for the effects of the wrong site brain surgery on your life today and in the future.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors have the experience of medical negligence claims to make your claim for wrong site surgery compensation.

Who can be at fault for wrong site surgery?

The medical professional involved in your wrong site surgery may be at fault for your compensation claim. Every medical professional owes you a duty of care. If they breach that duty of care, such as during wrong site surgery, you could have a medical negligence compensation claim*.

Wrong site surgery is what is known as a ‘Never Event.’ It should never happen, and there are protocols in place to prevent wrong site surgery from occurring in Ireland. The HSE and hospital authorities implement the procedures for safe surgery, and all medical professionals should follow them.

Medical professionals at fault for wrong site surgery:

  • The surgeon carrying out the surgery
  • The surgical team that did not follow the protocols
  • The team on the ward that preps the wrong patient
  • The HSE hospital responsible for following surgery protocols

If you suffer from a wrong site surgery when in hospital, you may feel the effects for life, and you can claim compensation from those responsible.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors can look at the details of your case to see if you have a valid compensation claim for wrong site surgery.

How is wrong site surgery caused?

Wrong site surgery is caused by medical negligence. The medical professional responsible for a safe surgery has made errors, resulting in wrong site surgery negligence.

The wrong site surgery, such as an operation on the wrong vertebra or the amputation of the wrong foot, will have serious implications for the patient, and they may have a wrong site surgery compensation claim*.

Wrong site surgery is caused by:

  • The surgeon not reading the notes carefully before surgery
  • Errors in diagnosis and in reading scan results
  • Errors on the ward when prepping the patient
  • Errors by the team checking the patient in pre-op
  • Administration errors due to cutbacks and staff shortages

If you are a victim of wrong site surgery, you may have a compensation claim.

O’Brien & Company medical negligence solicitors in Dublin have the experience to make your wrong site surgery compensation claim*.

Need Advice? Speak With An Expert.

If you are a victim of medical negligence, obtaining the advice of a professional and experienced solicitor is in your best interests.

Compensation for Wrong Site Surgery in Ireland

Compensation for wrong site surgery in Ireland could see you receiving money to cover your costs and losses. 

You may also receive compensation for the pain and other effects on your life due to medical negligence by the surgical team or any medical professional involved in the surgical errors.

When a medical professional breaches their duty of care to you it could be a claim for medical negligence. They may have put your life in danger and caused you unnecessary suffering, and in some cases, the effects could last for life, such as if you suffer a disability or need full-time care due to the medical negligence.

The compensation on offer differs from claim to claim. You could be incapacitated for life due to the medical negligence, or you may be out of work and lose income to the home. 

There is not one fixed amount of compensation for medical negligence, and you seek compensation for your losses, known as damages, in a medical negligence claim.

In Ireland, a compensation claim for medical negligence is a combination of two types of damages. 

What are damages in a Wrong site surgery compensation claim*?

Two types of damages cover the immediate effects on your life and the impact on your future life of wrong site surgery. 

You claim damages for the pain and suffering as well as the damages of loss of income and if you need to make adaptions to the home and car and any other changes to your life.

The damages in a compensation claim for wrong site surgery medical negligence in Ireland are:

General damages in wrong site surgery claim* are compensation for the Loss of Amenity in your life. The loss of amenity can be from the effects of the surgery on your ability to walk and do other activities as before your surgery.

A loss of amenity can be seen in a difficulty walking, exercising, or getting to work. 

You can also claim for the Pain and Suffering experienced due to a breach of the duty of care to you by the medical professional treating you.

The special damages in a wrong site surgery claim* cover the extra costs in your life due to the injury caused by the surgeon during the operation. You could suffer due to the surgery on the wrong eye or the operation to remove a healthy kidney.

Special damages in the wrong site surgery compensation claim* are:

  • Medical costs
  • Loss of earnings
  • Travel costs 
  • Cost of care
  • Further treatment costs
  • Cost of aids and equipment 

The wrong site surgery medical negligence claim in Ireland seeks compensation for the two damages due to a medical professional’s breach of duty of care.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors will be there with you when making a wrong site surgery compensation claim*.

Make a wrong site surgery claim* today

Make a wrong site surgery claim* today by contacting O’Brien & Company Solicitors in Dublin.

We have the experience in medical negligence and can fight your wrong site surgery claim* until you get the compensation you deserve. 

You are the one with the amputated foot or needing more brain surgery due to the wrong site surgery.

O’Brien & Company Solicitors have the team in place to make the compensation claim and will be with you at every step of the claims process.

Contact O’Brien & Company medical negligence solicitors to make your wrong site surgery compensation claim* today.

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O’Brien & Company Solicitors has a wealth of experience and a history of success in personal injury and medical negligence cases.

We pride ourselves on achieving the best results for our clients whilst at the same time making everything as straightforward and clear for you as possible.