It's a mistake that seems so egregious that it has made its way into movies and sitcoms as a punchline in the past. The idea that a surgeon would forget something inside an incision and then close the body back up, leaving that object inside, is almost absurd because...
Surgical Errors
Why should you bring a permanent marker to your surgery?
Whether you're having a knee replacement surgery or you need to have tissue removed because of cancer growth, having the surgery performed in the correct location on your body is of the utmost importance. That may seem like a very basic thing to point out, but...
How often do people wake up during surgery?
If your surgery goes as planned, they put you out with anesthesia before the procedure begins and you only wake up when they are done. You have an anesthesiologist with you at all times, and it is their job to monitor your levels and make sure this happens. That’s how...
How to protect yourself against a surgical error
Even though it’s not something you’re excited about, a surgical procedure may be necessary to restore your previous level of health. And for that reason alone, you’re okay with the idea of moving forward. However, even if you understand that the procedure is...
Q&A on MRSA Infections
Why can MRSA be considered a serious problem? MRSA [methicillin-resistant staph aureus] is a serious bacterial infection that is resistant to treatment with standard antibiotics. It is typically a nosocomial [hospital-acquired] post-operative surgical site infection...
Q&A on MRSA Infections
Why can MRSA be considered a serious problem? MRSA [methicillin-resistant staph aureus] is a serious bacterial infection that is resistant to treatment with standard antibiotics. It is typically a nosocomial [hospital-acquired] post-operative surgical site infection...
Killer Surgeon Convicted
Last month, a neurosurgeon from Texas was convicted of harming an elderly patient in his operating room. Dr. Christopher Duntsch was indicted on five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of harming an elderly person, however the prosecution...
You survived a preventable surgical error: Now, what?
You work hard and do your best to make ends meet. Like many others in Chicago and throughout the United States, the recent economic crisis and changes in the health care system may have hit you hard. The last you thing you need on top of all that is to suffer injury...
Saying sorry for surgical errors: How often do doctors actually apologize?
Apologizing to someone for an error on your part that injured the other person is basic human decency. Indeed, some psychologists believe that saying you're sorry is important even if you weren't at fault. It's a way of expressing empathy and showing you care about...
The terrible ‘never event’ mistake that surgeons still make
It is amazing to think that surgical tools as small as screws and sponges can harm the human body so much when surgeons accidently leave them behind after an operation. This type of medical malpractice is considered so preventable that experts call it a "never event,"...