Since early in this century, the U.S. Government has been tracking the incidence of what they call “Never Events”. “Never Events” are shocking medical errors – medical malpractice – that should never occur – and that often have catastrophic consequences for the patient involved.
The term “Never Event” was first introduced by Ken Kizer MD in 2001. Since that time the list has been greatly expanded to include six categories of medical malpractice events: surgical, product or device, patient protection, care management, environmental, and criminal.
So just what are some of the things considered “Never Events”?
Here are a few:
- Surgery performed on the wrong body part
- Surgery performed on the wrong patient
- A wrong surgical procedure performed on a patient
- Unintended retention of a foreign object (like a surgical tool, sponge, etc.) in a patient after surgery or other procedure
- Intraoperative or immediately postoperative death in an American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I patient
- Patient death or serious disability associated with the use of contaminated drugs, devices, or biologics provided by the health care facility
- Patient death or serious disability associated with the use or function of a device in patient care, in which the device is used for functions other than as intended
- Patient death or serious disability associated with intravascular air embolism that occurs while being cared for in a health care facility
- Infant discharged to the wrong person
- Patient death or serious disability associated with patient disappearance
- Patient suicide, or attempted suicide resulting in serious disability, while being cared for in a health care facility
- Patient death or serious disability associated with a medication error (eg, errors involving the wrong drug, wrong dose, wrong patient, wrong time, wrong rate, wrong preparation, or wrong route of administration)
- Stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers acquired after admission to a health care facility
- Patient death or serious disability due to spinal manipulative therapy
- Any incident in which a line designated for oxygen or other gas to be delivered to a patient contains the wrong gas or is contaminated by toxic substances
- Patient death or serious disability associated with a fall while being cared for in a health care facility
- Patient death or serious disability associated with the use of restraints or bedrails while being cared for in a health care facility
- Death or significant injury of a patient or staff member resulting from a physical assault (ie, battery) that occurs within or on the grounds of the health care facility
It is often hard to fathom how such medical malpractice could ever happen. Surgery on the wrong patient?? Leaving a scalpel or clamp inside a surgical patient?? Sadly these incidents do occur – with tragic consequences.
If you are ever the victim of medical malpractice call a qualified Connecticut medical malpractice lawyer. A knowledgeable medical malpractice lawyer can help to ensure that your rights are protected.
For more than 55 years, the medical malpractice lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been working hard to protect our clients.
What’s more, all of our Connecticut medical malpractice lawyers have been honored by inclusion in the 2012 New England Super Lawyers and Rising Stars… and the Hartford law firm of RisCassi and Davis is “Top Listed” in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® with the most listed attorneys representing injury victims in personal injury law in Hartford. The firm is also ranked a Tier 1 law firm in Hartford in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.” Click here to learn more about the honors and recognition we have received.
We have a great team dedicated to medical malpractice cases. Our offices are in Hartford but we are available to meet with you in your home or office if that is easier for you. Please contact us if we can help you.