Common Surgical Errors in Atlanta Metro Hospitals: What You Need to Know (2025)

Hospital surgeries should preserve lives, but common surgical errors in Atlanta metro hospitals remain disappointingly frequent. If you or a loved one has been the victim of surgical negligence at Emory University Hospital, Piedmont, Grady, or any other hospital, a surgical errors lawyer can represent you.

Common Surgical Errors in Atlanta Metro Hospitals

Surgical errors in Atlanta metro hospitals can and do harm patients and families across the region every year. Sometimes, the complications these mistakes cause are temporary, and patients can have a full recovery.

Unfortunately, other cases lead to extended recovery times or permanent injuries for the patient. If you or a loved one has suffered from a surgical error that was medical malpractice, it is important to know the types of surgical errors that occur, why they happen, and how to respond to protect your health and legal rights.

Wrong-site surgery takes place in about one out of 100,000 surgical procedures. The incidence of wrong-site surgery has declined by approximately 30% in the past decade, following the introduction of safety checklists. Wrong-site surgery is responsible for about 10% of all surgical errors reported in hospitals.

Wrong‑Site, Wrong‑Procedure, and Wrong‑Patient Surgeries (WSPES)

The category of wrong body part surgeries or surgeries on the wrong patients contains the most shocking medical errors. These events are never acceptable, being easily avoidable with appropriate safety measures, such as surgical site marking and team time‑outs.

Georgia courts have seen a number of WSPE cases, frequently with significant verdicts or settlements, since the negligence is so obvious. All major Atlanta medical centers, including Emory and Northside, must adhere to Universal Protocols, which, if not followed, can lead to malpractice claims.

Retained Surgical Instruments

Georgia law also has a specific exception to the statute of limitations for cases where a foreign object is left in a person’s body by a doctor during surgery. The law has a one-year statute of limitations from the time of discovery, and this discovery may be outside the normal statute of limitations on medical malpractice claims.

Surgical teams should count every sponge, clamp, and tool used before and after the procedure. It is legally required for hospitals to have regular inspections. Nevertheless, instruments are still sometimes left in the patient during surgery, leading to pain, infection, and, possibly, another surgery.

Anesthesia Errors

Administering anesthesia is a precise practice. Improper dosage administration, combined with inadequate monitoring and early extubation, can lead to brain damage, cardiovascular collapse, or death. The legal system can address errors when medical providers fail to meet acceptable practice standards.

Complex hospitals, such as Emory University and Emory Saint Joseph’s, are teaching hospitals, which means there is a greater potential for anesthesiology errors involving supervision of residents or trainees.

Nerve Damage

Medical procedures on the spinal, ENT, orthopedic, or gynecological regions may cause nerve damage when medical practitioners fail to properly identify or position nerves. Accidental organ punctures can occur when surgeons lack proper techniques or display an insufficient knowledge of anatomy.

Injuries like these can often lead to permanent pain or loss of function. They often require subsequent surgeries and may be the basis for a malpractice claim if provider negligence is to blame.

Surgical Site Infections

A surgical infection is not always bad luck. If it is caused by unsanitary practices, unsterile equipment, or a delay in giving antibiotics, it may be the basis for a claim. The hospital’s failure to follow proper infection control practices can be part of a surgical error claim.

Hire a Surgical Errors Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured by a surgical error, it can be daunting to battle insurers or hospital defenses on your own. By hiring a surgical errors lawyer, you can receive professional representation for your surgical errors claim. Your attorney can pursue the highest possible compensation amounts for medical expenses, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering. A strong legal advocate also holds hospitals to account, promoting safety and responsibility.

About Us

At The Tolson Firm, LLC, we represent victims of medical negligence throughout Georgia. From pursuing surgical error cases to navigating complex surgical error claims, our team understands the serious consequences of these mistakes. We fight to make sure clients receive justice and understand all the potential Atlanta surgical errors penalties their providers may face.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Most Common Surgical Error?

A: One of the most common surgical errors involves leaving foreign objects inside a patient’s body after surgery. Surgical items left inside patients unintentionally can cause severe infections and internal damage, which requires another surgical procedure to fix. Retained surgical items are nearly always preventable and often lead to a strong surgical malpractice claim.

Q: Can I File a Claim Against a Hospital for a Botched Surgery?

A: Yes, you can file a claim against a hospital for a botched surgery. This could be a result of undertrained or ill-supervised staff, or it might be an inherent problem with the hospital. The claim could also, however, be against the surgeon directly if they are not an employee but an independent contractor. A surgical malpractice attorney can ascertain who is liable.

Q: Are Surgeons Liable for Mistakes?

A: Surgeons may be held legally accountable for medical errors if the mistake was a result of negligence or substandard care compared to the accepted standard of care. Examples of legal liability would be wrong-site surgery, anesthesia errors, and performing surgery on the wrong patient. If proven, a victim may be entitled to financial compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and long-term disability.

Q: What Errors Are Among the Most Prevalent and Serious During Surgery?

A: Examples of common surgical errors that often lead to serious injury and death include:

• Wrong-site surgery
• Wrong-patient surgery
• Anesthesia mistakes
• Nerve damage
• Surgical site infections
• Retained surgical items

These medical mistakes can result in lifelong injury, permanent disability, and death, and they are often the subject of surgical malpractice claims.

Contact The Tolson Firm, LLC, Today

If you or a loved one suffered due to a surgical mistake, don’t face the aftermath alone. Contact The Tolson Firm, LLC, today to speak with an experienced surgical malpractice attorney and explore your legal options.