By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: What Are Wrong-Site Surgeries and How Do They Occur?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > What Are Wrong-Site Surgeries and How Do They Occur?
Policy & LawSurgery

What Are Wrong-Site Surgeries and How Do They Occur?

Wrong-site surgeries are serious problems and can be terrifying, so it is important to know what they are and how to prevent them.

Abby Norman
Abby Norman
Share
6 Min Read
wrong-site surgery
Shutterstock Licensed Photo - 182066816 | by ZouZou
SHARE

What is a Wrong-Site Surgery?

Around 100,000 people die of medical errors every year. One of the biggest causes is poorly performed surgeries.

Contents
  • What is a Wrong-Site Surgery?
    • Causes of Wrong-Site Surgeries
    • 1.      Scheduling
    • 2.      Holding/Pre-Op
    • 3.      Operating Room
    • 4.      Organizational Culture
  • Avoiding Wrong-Site Surgeries
  • What to Do If You Become a Victim of a Wrong-Site Surgery?
    • Call a Personal Injury Attorney for Malpractice

Wrong-site surgery may involve getting operated on the wrong side of the body, undergoing an incorrect procedure, or getting a medical procedure done that was meant for another patient. These wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-procedure errors are serious blunders that should never occur and demonstrate severe safety issues. They are a common cause of medical practice cases.

An example of wrong-site surgery is operating on the incorrect level of the spine, which is an unfortunate yet common problem for neurosurgeons. A case study of a wrong-site surgery involved a patient who was operated on for a heart procedure originally intended for another patient with the same last name. 

Causes of Wrong-Site Surgeries

New technology has changed the way surgeries are performed. However, mistakes are still a common problem.

More Read

Medical Device Tax Costs 1,000 Jobs
Primary Care Workforce Situation: Not Hopeless
Ahead of Reform, States Musing Options for Coverage Fluctuations
Why Accessible Technology Matters…to All of Us
Shingles Vaccine Really Works But Many Elderly Don’t Receive It

The main factors that dramatically increase the risk of wrong-site surgeries in four key areas include:

1.      Scheduling

During the scheduling of surgeries – whether it is done verbally by phone, electronically by emails or websites, or manually by fax or paper – a lack of verification and accuracy of booking documents can lead to major mix-ups. Unapproved abbreviations, incomprehensible handwriting, and cross-outs in booking forms are also big contributors. 

2.      Holding/Pre-Op

Pre-op errors include unreliable use of the site-marking protocol, incomplete patient verification, and marks made with unauthorized site markers. Incorrect primary documents like medical history, surgeon’s booking orders, and consent forms can result in wrong-site procedures. Similarly, people other than the surgeon marking the site can create confusion before the procedure. 

3.      Operating Room

Operating room errors commonly include rushing and distractions during time outs. Issues occur when employees time out without full concentration or when there is some sort of miscommunication in the briefing process. Another cause of wrong-site surgery is the lack of verification of the primary document right before the incision. Many of these errors are known as “never events” — accidents that should never occur in a modern day medical facility. When a person suffers a serious injury during a surgical procedure, it is likely that they are a victim of medical malpractice. 

4.      Organizational Culture

Organizational culture errors include senior leadership not being actively involved in the daily processes, employees not being empowered or encouraged to speak, and policy changes made without consistent or adequate staff education. 

Avoiding Wrong-Site Surgeries

Leadership is fundamental in avoiding wrong-site surgeries. This is one of the key areas that can minimize the risk associated with this malpractice. Improved leadership and communication may include a briefing period right before a procedure to verify the planned actions. Moreover, an interview process involving the patient can be useful. Making the patient’s family members part of the process may also ensure that further confirmation of the procedure is provided. 

Financial and professional consequences can result from cases of wrong surgical procedures, and the impact on the patient could also be very serious. For this reason, it is best to take proactive measures to eliminate any room for error. 

What to Do If You Become a Victim of a Wrong-Site Surgery?

If you experience medical malpractice, you could be entitled to financial compensation for the related damages. To strengthen your case, make sure to take the following steps. 

  • Look for a healthcare professional elsewhere. Make sure the new surgeon is in your life insurance provider’s network to avoid taking on added debt while you receive treatment. Make sure to contact a reputable personal injury lawyer before leaving the facility you believe is at fault. Failing to follow up properly and/or missing appointments with the previous surgeon may potentially create problems for your court case.
  • Maintain a record of all evidence of damages, causation, and liability. Hold on to your prescriptions, medical records, diagnostic images, and medical bills. Save all the invoices and receipts for any costs that you incurred related to the wrong-site surgery. 
  • Do not discuss your problem with anyone other than your friends and family. Avoid talking about your troubles online via social media posts. The healthcare industry realizes the severity of malpractice lawsuits and will often try to handle them on its own. If the other party approaches you, do not correspond. No matter how regretful and passionate they seem, their main goal is to resolve the issue quickly and cheaply. Consult with your lawyer on what steps to take next. 

Call a Personal Injury Attorney for Malpractice

If you believe you have been a victim of a surgeon’s malpractice, it is best to call a personal injury lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. 

TAGGED:medical errorwrong surgeries
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Abby Norman
My name is Abby Norman and I am a healthcare blogger. With over 10 years of experience in the medical field, I have developed a passion for helping others understand the complexities of healthcare.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

benefits of health insurance
Health carePublic Health

Key Factors in Choosing Health Plans Based on Deductibles

February 26, 2021

Breast Cancer: A Young Woman’s Perspective

January 3, 2013
Public HealthWellness

Conceiving Past 30: What Women Need To Know

July 25, 2019

How the New Requirements for Pathology Lab Accreditation Benefit You

August 30, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?