An orthopedic doctor committed a major surgical error when it was learned that he performed surgery on the wrong ankle. The surgical error was discovered after the surgery was complete and it does not appear that the doctor has faced any immediate disciplinary actions besides a modest fine. While this particular incident occurred in another state, New York readers should be aware if their doctor has committed similar mistakes.
It is not clear exactly how this mistake occurred, but the woman underwent surgery on her left ankle when it should have been performed on her right. The doctor immediately realized his mistake upon completing the procedure and the family was informed of what happened. The woman later agreed to undergo surgery again on the correct ankle.
The state's medical board reportedly told the doctor that, should this mistake occur again, he could face more disciplinary action. He was fined $2,500 by the board. The woman could explore the option to seek civil compensation for the error in the event she does not reach some sort of settlement with the physician for any monetary damages she may have incurred due to the error.
Medical mistakes are not uncommon, but it is not acceptable when a patient undergoes a surgery on the wrong part of the body. Because of the extra recovery time and additional monetary burden, the woman may choose to seek financial compensation from the doctor. When New York patients are the victims of doctor or surgical error, it may seem daunting to challenge a diagnosis or treatment, but patients never have to suffer alone. Victims of negligence of any kind always have the option to explore their possible legal options.
Source: qctimes.com, "Q-C doctor fined for performing surgery on patient's wrong ankle", Deirdre Baker, Aug. 15, 2014
Source: qctimes.com, "Q-C doctor fined for performing surgery on patient's wrong ankle", Deirdre Baker, Aug. 15, 2014
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