Article provided by Caravona & Czack, P.L.L.
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There are known risks associated with surgery. However, suffering a severe burn is not one of them. Yet, year after year, patients across the country are disfigured, maimed and killed as a result of surgical burns in the operating room.
The primary culprit for these preventable and avoidable surgical burns is a lack of effective communication in the operating room setting. Between anesthesiologists administering oxygen and nitrous oxide, surgeons using heat sources such as lasers and nurses and technicians applying disinfectants and ointments that can act as fuel, a failure to communicate will result in tragedy.
Malpractice from surgical burns can result from a variety of factors including:
- Flammable anesthetics, such as ether;
- Electrical sparks from a surgical tool can set off a fire in breathing tubes;
- Inappropriate use of lasers and electrosurgical tools used to cut, cauterize or vaporize tissue in minimally invasive surgical procedures;
- Not using 100% oxygen;
- Failing to ensure flammable skin prep solutions dry before using an electric cautery device;
- Topical solutions not being allowed to dry and thereafter becoming ignited with a spark from an electric-cauterization device;
- Not draping a patient properly; or
- Enriching oxygen delivered to patients under anesthesia as well as heat sources can combine with alcohol prep solutions and sponges.
Severe patient burns are not limited to the operating room. Infant warmers can catch fire if a hot particle falls from the warmer's assembly into the area near the baby's head where oxygen was being delivered. Patients can also suffer devastating injuries from coils and sensors used in MRI machines, IV solution bags that are overheated and failures in fiber-optic lighting.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a surgical burn, call an experienced attorney to discuss your legal rights.
