This will depend on the specific circumstances of each case. It may be due to one medical professional, or it may be more than one. An investigation will likely be required to find out.
What happens when a surgeon performs surgery in the wrong place?
The results of surgery carried out in the wrong place can be significant depending on the circumstances. The patient may need further surgery or treatment to correct the mistakes, and recovery may be delayed, complicated, or lengthened.
In serious cases, the surgical error can result in life-changing health issues (e.g. loss of a healthy organ or limb), psychological harm and even death.
Should a surgeon be held legally responsible if they remove the wrong body part during surgery?
Who is responsible and what went wrong will need to be established; it may or may not be the surgeon’s fault. However, if it is established that the surgeon, or the Hospital Trust they work for, is has been negligent then you will normally be entitled to claim damages and/or compensation.
How often are wrong site surgeries reported?
Although wrong site surgery is something that can go wrong, it is relatively uncommon. According to research published in 2021, there were 472 serious never events reported in the year ending 31 March 2020. Of these, 226 (48%) were classified as wrong site surgery.
