It is not uncommon to fear surgery, even if you know it’s necessary. While some fears are unfounded and just a natural fear of the unknown, other fears are well founded in factual evidence of surgeries gone wrong in the past. Whether you have been the subject of a surgical mishap or you have read about the horror stories of what others have suffered, it is important that you address your fears before being prepped for that dreaded event.
Fear of Anesthesia Is Quite Common
Sometimes a surgical procedure requires general anesthesia which is when you will be put under. You will be unaware of anything going on around you and should feel absolutely nothing during the surgery. Normally, this is what happens, but there have been times when certain mistakes were made, and a patient received an insufficient dosage whereby they awoke while the surgeon was working on them. If this has happened to you and you suffered severe consequences as a result, know that you can file a claim against the anesthesiologist, the hospital, the surgeon himself, or all three! You would do well to be represented by a winning anesthesia and surgery lawyer who has won these kinds of claims in the past. Those doctors and the hospital will be represented by high-power attorneys, so you deserve nothing less.
Mistakes in Surgery
Surgeons have been known to operate on the wrong body part or to make one of a number of mistakes during the operation. Some patients have lost two limbs instead of one when the wrong one was amputated, and other patients have been stricken with severe sepsis when sponges and other tools were closed up inside them at the close of surgery. Sadly, surgical mistakes are more common than you might think, so always research your surgeon’s reputation and history before agreeing to the procedure.
Unnecessary and/or Experimental Surgeries
One Chicago lawyer won a $30 million lawsuit when an infant boy was the subject of at least 25 experimental surgeries after mistakes were made in the initial surgery to correct esophageal atresia. This is a condition which really should have been easily corrected during the first surgery, but the following surgeries were attempts to cover up or correct mistakes made the first time around. Is there any reason why patients fear unnecessary or experimental surgeries, many of which could have been avoided?
Coming to in Strange Surroundings
Another common fear is the recovery room. Most patients have just endured a stressful procedure and would be comforted to have a loved one nearby. Although today’s hospitals make it possible for the next of kin to be there for that time when the patient comes out of anesthesia, there are some hospitals that won’t let a loved on in the recovery room until the patient is fully alert. Why do you think that is?
These are all common fears among patients with impending surgeries and while they are rare in relation to the number of surgeries conducted each year, these things still happen which is why some fears are well grounded. A final word would recommend you thoroughly research the surgeon and get a second opinion if that’s what it takes, but it is best for you if you can go into the operating room relaxed and with a positive attitude. It is said you heal faster that way!
