What Is a “Never Event?”

 Posted on December 24, 2020 in Medical Malpractice

Ideally, a professional in any industry should do his or her job to the best of his or her ability. When someone is a doctor, surgeon, anesthesiologist, or other medical professional, job performance is a matter of life and death. Even a seemingly simple mistake or oversight can lead to disastrous consequences in the medical field. Some medical mistakes are so grievous that they are called “never events” because they should never happen. If you or a loved one were harmed in a never event, it is important to learn about your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation through a medical malpractice claim.

Examples of Never Events

Medical professionals are human, and like all humans, they can make mistakes. However, when a medical professional makes a serious, avoidable medical mistake, the professional or the facility may be liable for damages. Often, medical malpractice cases involve ambiguous situations in which a medical worker’s actions are questionable but not immediately, obviously negligent. It is only after a detailed investigation that the medical professional’s negligence becomes apparent. A never event is typically much more blatant. Some examples of never events include:

• Performing surgery on the wrong body part
• Performing surgery on the wrong patient
• Leaving a foreign object such as a surgical tool inside the patient’s body
• Using contaminated drugs or devices
• Administering the wrong medication or an inaccurate dose of medication
• Inseminating the wrong egg or using the wrong donor sperm during artificial insemination
• Allowing a patient’s bed sore to reach a stage 3 or above in severity
• Physical abuse or sexual assault of a patient

Legal Rights After Being the Victim of a Never Event

Although serious, avoidable medical mistakes should never be made, studies show that these events are more common than one may assume. One study found that over 4,000 never events occur each year in the United States. If you were injured because of a medical mistake or your loved one died because of medical negligence, you may have the right to bring a civil claim against the liable party. You may be entitled to financial compensation for medical bills, lost income due to missed work, funeral and burial expenses, disability, disfigurement, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Contact an Arlington Heights Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a loved one were the victim of medical malpractice, contact Newland & Newland, LLP. Schedule a free consultation with a Palatine medical malpractice attorney from our firm by calling 847-797-8000 today.

Source:

https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/never-events