Anyone have a mistake done during surgery?

[cassie]

A few years back I was in the hospital for a hysterectomy. My doctor mistakenly cut my bladder, but she immeadiately called for an urologist to repair the damage. My 3 day stay went to 7 because of the mishap. My doc bent over backwards to make me comfortable, like moving me into a private room. I refused, as I liked having the company of my other 3 bedmates. A couple were elderly, and being a former nurses aid, I spent a lot of my time helping them with getting bedpans since the nurses on duty would be slow to respond. By the time they did come, the patients had done their business, and the nurses could dispose of the pans. The nurses actually liked having me in the room
It was funny, after I finally got home, I received a beautiful flower arrangement from my doctor. Guess she was hoping I wouldn't sue for malpractise.

 

[darlene9947]

Wow, I have a friend who had the same thing happen to her. She only has one kidney left, the one that was nicked by the scalpel, so she has to be very careful about her diet and health in general. She says she expects to be on dialysis in the future. I hope yourecover completely with no side effects.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Garrett did, but we were never told. He had open heart surgery when he was 3 months old. When he was 6 months old, he had a minor surgery on his eye. We had to carry his chart from point A to point B and I read his surgery report, which indicated that they had accidentally cut an artery and had to do some sort of repair on it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by cassie
AMy doc bent over backwards to make me comfortable, like moving me into a private room.

It was funny, after I finally got home, I received a beautiful flower arrangement from my doctor. Guess she was hoping I wouldn't sue for malpractise.

You got that right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After working in a hospital 8 years, I automatically thought...lawsuit!!

 

[jfulcer]

My dad had knee surgery to correct a problem with how his knee worked and the doctor accidentally shaved off too much on one of the bones and his leg now sticks out at about a 3-4 degree angle instead of being straight up and down. It looks kinda freaky, but still works fine.

 

[goodstarr]

There is a difference in mistakes from negligence and complications resulting from surgery-I have seen negligent mistakes and things that happen during surgery that weren't supposed to-but just did. Example- an emergency c-section to save a baby's life. During the rush, the baby got a small cut from the scalpel-no stitches- just a scar. Lawsuit? You bet!

 

[Mickeyfaniam]

Yes my , then 8 year old, now 15 year old, had what was suppose to be overnight surgery for a "velo pharyngeal closure insuffiencey" which meant that air came thru his nose when he spoke and you could not understand him. Its something that is common in children born with a cleft pallet (sp)....however my son did not have this....just the speech problem. Anyway we got called from the surgeon that he was finished and doing fine in the recovery room and should be up shortly. We waited another 2 hours before he came up They took him to his room and a nurse came in to listen to his lungs and she heard some gurgling noise....he was then RUSHED to ICU and was there for a week. To this day....I don't know what happened.....something about air getting into his chest cavity and they had no idea how or why. Something had to happen AFTER the the doctor was finshed but THEY weren't talking. It was a nightmare of a week I would not want to relive.
He is doing fine today and speaks normally

 

[DopeyRN]

During my last surgery I was given a medication that I told them I was allergic to...discomfort, no real harm done, and the anesthesia group wrote off my portion of the bill...this was stupidity and should not have happened. But sometimes things do happen, like the baby cut during the C/S. That is why they make you sign all those papers, because not all complications are due to negligence. Sometimes stuff just happens.

 

[crz4mm2]

Goodstarr,
You mean a baby's LIFE was saved with an emergency c-section and the parents SUED because the baby had a nick from the scapel during a LIFE SAVING surgery? I wouldn't call that negligence at all. A mistake, certainly, but not negligence.

Sigh.

Cathy

 

[honeywolf7]

There's no way the parents should have won the lawsuit in the emergency c-section case IMO. What jerks!

 

[momof2OH]

I had a bunionectomy (sp?) on my right foot about 14 years ago that wasn't done right. After many, many surgeries to try and correct it, I am now in an aircast for the rest of my life. I have many plates and screws in my foot. Some of my bones have actually died. Blood vessels are shot which means poor circulation.
and because I have been in a cast or air cast now for the last 8 years and am higher up on my right side than my left the doctors have told me that my lower spine has now started curving, causing me back problems.
A huge mess now that originally was something quit simple.

 

[cassie]

momof2OH, that's just awful. I hope you did get some compensation for that mess. Doctors are not infallible, they can sometimes make a mistake. My doctor informed me of the mishap while I was still in recovery. She also promptly informed my family. I have not had any problems after 15 years, so I feel blessed. Mistakes can and do happen, no matter what job we're doing. Unfortunately, medical ones are unforgivenable.

 

[MeanLaureen]

LALALALALALALALLALALALALALA....

I don't hear what you guys are sayingggggg...

whoops.. that's not right

I don't read what you guys are postingggggggggg...

My Rheumy told me on my visit Thursday that I'm just about ready for my first joint surgery from my AOSD. Right Wrist. Go figure - if he only took an X-Ray of my left knee.. now THAT is a candidate for surgery!

 

[Nette]

Wow! Interesting discussion...

My cousin was an emergency C-section baby w/ a nick on his face. His parents sued, but only for the free plastic surgery to fix the ugly scar on his cheek.

My C-section incision came open on one side. LOVELY. It had to heal from the inside out. Luckily, my husband did a beautiful job doctoring it. Seems to be pretty normal now. And it got me an extra 2 weeks of maternity leave paid for by short term disability.

I also had a doctor pour HCL all over my backside during an acid wash of my cervix for some mild displaysia. She just said "you might want to put some Desitin on that". My butt was so raw!

 

[crz4mm2]

I am sorry for all who have had complications from any surgery. Unfortunately, medical professionals are not perfect. No one is.
Mistakes are sometimes made.

Nette, so what was the compensation for your cousin? Only the medical bill to pay for plastic surgery?
I am glad your incision is healing now. What was the cause of the opening?

Cassie, unfortunately, the bladder is quite close to the uterus. Easy to nick when doing hysterectomy- especially LAVH. I am glad your doc called in the urologist. That was a smart move. And bless you for helping your roommates! THat was very nice of you. I am sure the nurses appreciated it~ Bless you more for not suing your doctor!

Momof2oh, Sounds like you have had an awful time! I am sorry for your experience. I hope you get compensation for that as well!

I don't agree with some of the litigation that is done. I hate that this society holds someone who does their best and does it in good faith, responsible for a mistake that is not life threatening or permanent. And sometimes are made to pay for something that is beyond their control.

We try our best. We love our jobs and want to take good care of people.

Here's to good health, safe surgeries, and happy patients

Cathy

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

I have a scar between my neck and shoulder in the back. It seems I was cut while I was being born. The doc put a couple of stitches in and that was that. I guess it happened before people made a routine of calling in a plastic surgeon for that type of thing.

 

[momof2OH]

Thanks for everyones thoughts! No, I never got compensation from the original doc, not even a "I'm sorry". I'm only 33 and am now considered disabled. I'm a single mom of 2 (both with some disabilities too) so things can be hard at times, but we manage. (Got a GREAT mom!! )

Hope everyone who has had "little mishaps" is doing well!!