Surgery Center Errors - Medical Malpractice Attorney

Ambulatory surgery centers, same-day surgery centers, or outpatient surgery centers all refer to the same type of facility – a convenient and cost-effective medical environment that generally handles surgical procedures that are not complex and do not require overnight hospital stays. Surgery centers can help patients by quickly and efficiently handling simple surgeries with less red tape than typically one would find in hospital administration. Unfortunately, the simplified nature of most surgery centers can also be what leads to critical errors.

Some surgery centers in Florida do not have the staff or equipment to handle surgical complications. If a patient should develop a life-threatening condition during or after surgery, the center might not have the ability to provide adequate patient care. The center might instead have to transfer the patient to a larger hospital. This delay in care can be significantly harmful to the patient, who may or may not survive. The limited capabilities of some surgery centers mean the facility should not accept or perform certain types of surgeries for the safety of patients.

Determining whether or not a surgery center is the right choice for a patient depends upon the type of procedure and the patient’s medical status. A surgeon should carefully assess a patient’s medical history, blood pressure, weight, cardiovascular health, and other aspects to gauge the patient’s physical fitness for the operation. If a patient has underlying issues that could present an issue during or after surgery, it is the physician’s job to recommend that the patient go elsewhere for the procedure or not undergo the operation at all.