Personal Injury Law: Did Your Surgeon Double-Book You?

       

A recent  Boston Globe report drew attention to a national phenomena that could be putting surgical patients at risk, or at the very least, require them to suffer longer periods under anesthesia, endure longer surgeries, or be more likely to suffer complications.

 

            As more surgeons work in multiple hospitals and run more than one operating room, the risk of them double booking operations or trying to juggle several patients at once has increased. In some cases, doctors have attempted to perform two surgeries at the same time, putting inexperienced residents at the helm for surgeries that require more expert guidance. According to Boston Globe, more hospitals are considering placing stricter guidelines for “overlapping surgeries,” but the practice doesn’t seem to be regulated. As it stands, there aren’t clear guidelines for how patients are to be informed when surgeons run two operating rooms.

            The Boston Globe found that in 47 hospitals across the country, it is not uncommon for a doctor to begin a new surgery when he or she isn’t done with the first. Some surgeries are deliberately scheduled to have this kind of overlap. Patients are not always informed that they may be under anesthesia and still have to wait for the doctor to arrive. Others may not be aware that the surgeon may not be the person performing the operation. Many doctors have urged for restrictions being placed on overlapping surgeries, especially in cases where the surgeries are complex. In one instance, a doctor was found to be performing two spine surgeries simultaneously, resulting in a $840,000 medical malpractice lawsuit because Medicare was illegally billed for a surgery that was performed by medical residents.

            To make matters worse, some hospitals have outright refused to openly discuss their surgery scheduling policies. There may be no official policy in place to properly inform patients about how their surgery will be performed and whether medical residents will be alone when they sew the patient back up or perform initial incisions. Yet, what happens if a patient bleeds or if his or her condition changes as less-experienced doctors finish the surgery? What happens if an inexperienced surgeon performs a bad cut. Not having a more experienced doctor present can be disastrous.

            Doctors have immense discretion when it comes to whether they are required to tell their patients about whether the surgery will overlap.

            At the end of the day, patients have the right to be informed about their medical care and have the right to seek compensation from hospitals who cause them personal injury when they don’t meet standards of care. According to ProPublica, it can be difficult for patients and their families to know when something went wrong. The health care system often fails to protect patients, but it also often fails to inform families honestly about what went wrong when mistakes happen. This results in a lack of accountability. According to one survey, only 1 in 5 providers or medical facilities disclosed that errors or harm had occurred. In some cases, disclosure only took place when families or loved ones placed pressure on doctors and hospitals.

            If you’ve been injured or suffered surgical complications in Austin, Texas, it is important to understand that you may not have been informed about all aspects of the care you received. A personal injury lawyer in Austin, Texas like Robson Law Firm may be able to help your family get the answers it deserves.

Visit the website of attorney Chris Robson at www.robsonlawfirm.com for answers to your legal questions regarding a personal injury matter in Austin Texas.