While there has been substantial media coverage regarding distracted driving, there is another dangerous activity that can result in serious injury when someone is not paying full attention that has received far less publicity. The activity is distracted surgery. Although you may find it hard to believe that a surgeon in a hospital operating room would permit oneself to be distracted while performing surgery, this is an increasing problem resulting in both serious injury and even wrongful death according to a growing number of studies and pending lawsuits.
One recent example involves a Colorado surgeon who settled a medical malpractice lawsuit that involved serious injuries caused by a distracted physician. The lawsuit alleged that the neurosurgeon made ten personal and business cell phone calls during the surgical procedure. The patient was partially paralyzed during the operation. The lawsuit settled for an undisclosed amount. There are an increasing number of medical professionals that are multi-tasking, such as emailing, texting and posting to social networks while performing medical examinations and procedures. Some of the reports of this dangerous form of multi-tasking come from doctors and other medical staff.
Although portable electronic devices may serve legitimate functions during a medical procedure, including performing medical research like access to information about drugs or case studies, the presence of these devices creates a temptation to use them for illegitimate purposes that leads to doctors and support staff having their attention divided. Fifty percent of all heart monitoring technicians engaged in monitoring heart bypass machines admitted to talking on cell phones during heart bypass surgery according to a study published in the heart surgery medical journal Perfusion. The results are even more concerning because forty percent of those who engaged in this practice admit knowing it is wrong.
The problem is expected to get worse before it gets better. Doctors are increasingly using communication technology, which can improve access to information and patient care that may also lead to distractions that can result in medical mistakes. If a doctor fails to provide medical care that meets established professional standards for the medical specialty and geographic location, an injured patient may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim to obtain reasonable compensation. While hospitals that employ doctors may also be liable for such injuries, the doctor may only have privileges in the hospital complicating attempts to obtain fair compensation for one’s injuries.
If you or someone close to you have been injured by medical malpractice by a distracted surgeon or other medical professional, our experienced Mississippi medical malpractice lawyers at Barrett Law may be able to represent you in a Mississippi medical malpractice lawsuit. The experienced Mississippi medical malpractice attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to medical malpractice victims for over 75 years. We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.