Wrong Site (wrong body part) Surgery
If you've undergone surgery on the wrong part of your body, you're likely experiencing shock, distress, and understandable anger about this fundamental medical error. At The Medical Law Partnership, we understand how profoundly unsettling this experience can be. Wrong site surgery is classified as a "never event" in healthcare, meaning it should never occur when proper safety checks are followed. We're here to help you secure the compensation you deserve for this clear breach of medical standards, while supporting you through every step of the legal process.
How common is wrong site (wrong body part) surgery?
While exact figures vary, NHS data indicates that wrong site surgeries still occur dozens of times each year in the UK, despite being entirely preventable. These errors happen across various specialties, including orthopaedics, neurosurgery, and general surgery. The most common wrong site errors involve operating on the wrong limb, the wrong level of the spine, or the wrong side of paired organs. What’s particularly distressing is that these mistakes often result from failures in basic safety protocols that are specifically designed to prevent such errors. We’ve helped many patients in your situation, and we know how life-altering these mistakes can be.
The typical errors we see in wrong site surgery cases include surgical teams failing to properly verify the correct site before the operation, not following the mandatory “time out” safety checks, incorrect marking of the surgical site or failure to mark it at all, and poor communication between team members. Other failures involve operating on the wrong patient due to identification errors, relying on incorrect documentation, or allowing time pressures to override safety protocols. In nearly all cases we handle, multiple staff members share responsibility for these preventable errors that lead to devastating consequences for patients.
Beginning your claim with us is straightforward and completely risk-free. When you first contact us, we’ll listen carefully to understand your experience and how the wrong site surgery has affected your physical health and emotional wellbeing. Our specialist solicitors will obtain your medical records and work with surgical experts to build a compelling case demonstrating negligence. We’ll handle all communications with the hospital and their insurers, removing that burden from you. Importantly, we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, meaning you can pursue justice without worrying about upfront legal costs. From your first contact with us, we’ll guide you through each step with expertise and compassion.
Your compensation will reflect the full impact of this serious medical error. This includes damages for the unnecessary pain and suffering caused by surgery on the wrong site, compensation for any corrective procedures you’ve needed, reimbursement for lost earnings during your extended recovery, and costs for any ongoing treatment or rehabilitation. The claim will also account for the psychological trauma of experiencing such a fundamental medical error, including any loss of trust in healthcare professionals or anxiety about future treatment. In cases where the wrong site surgery has caused permanent damage or disability, compensation amounts increase significantly to account for lifelong consequences and care needs.
Most wrong site surgery claims take between 2 to 4 years to resolve, as hospitals often admit liability relatively quickly for these clear errors. However, if your case involves complex injuries, disputed medical evidence, or requires assessment of long-term prognosis, it may take longer, potentially extending to 5 years or more in some circumstances. The timeline depends on factors like how promptly the hospital responds, whether they dispute aspects of your claim, and the extent of your injuries. While we’ll always work efficiently to resolve your claim, we’ll never compromise on securing the full compensation you deserve, regardless of how long the process takes.
Contact The Medical Law Partnership today.
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