The state of California has fined Anaheim Regional Medical Center $50,000 for performing kidney surgery on the wrong side of a patient. The Orange County, California surgical error took place after the patient was diagnosed with a kidney stone on the right side of the body.
According to an investigative report, the patient's doctor faxed over paperwork that erroneously stated that the stone was on the left side of the patient instead of the right. A CAT scan image, however, showed that the stone was on the other side of the patient's body. Because of the medical mistake, the patient reportedly experienced prolonged pain and had to undergo another surgery.
One of the nurses who worked with the patient says that she wasn't given adequate time to finish her pre-op review before another nurse moved the patient into the operating room. That is were a doctor placed a stent in the patient's wrong side.
Anaheim Region has since submitted its correction plan to the state. It says that the nurses who took care of the patients were disciplined and computers have since been installed in operating rooms so that doctors can look at medical images. The fine is the first that the hospital has received from the state of California.
Wrong-Site Surgeries
This type of medical mistake is preventable and can be grounds for an Anaheim medical malpractice case. There are procedures that should be in place to prevent doctors from performing surgery on the wrong party of the body. It can be devastating to have the wrong breast or internal organ removed because medical professionals made unnecessary errors. Additional surgeries may be required to remedy the situation. In some cases, the consequences can be disfiguring, disabling, and/or fatal.
Anaheim hospital fined for wrong-side surgery, The OC Register, June 2, 2011
Related Web Resource:
Medical Malpractice, Nolo
Wrong-Site Surgery, HCIFONline
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Our Anaheim medical malpractice attorneys represent Orange County, California personal injury clients.
