The right surgical procedures can help set a patient on the road to recovery. But in many cases – whether it’s due to financial incentives, negligence, or other reasons – patients are advised to undergo unnecessary high-risk surgeries that can cause severe injuries, death, or other complications. In this article, we explore some of the top unnecessary surgeries and how these procedures can impact a patient’s life.
If you’re an attorney working on a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit involving unnecessary surgeries, you may benefit from expert witness or life care planning services. At Cardinal LifeCare Consulting, we offer both and can assist during settlement negotiations and litigation. To get started, contact us today at 724-387-0519.
1. Spinal Fusion Back Surgery
Patients suffering from lower back pain are often advised to undergo spinal fusion back surgery. However, not only does the surgery have a low success rate, but recent studies have also shown that more than 15% of patients who undergo this treatment don’t exhibit symptoms that would warrant the surgery.
2. Hysterectomy
Hysterectomies are among the most common surgical procedures undergone by women. However, studies have revealed that for 1 in 5 women, this procedure may not have been necessary. The study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed medical records of more than 3,000 women. The authors found that in 18.3% of these cases, pathological findings indicated that the procedure was unnecessary.
3. C-Section
If there are complications during child birth, a C-section can save both the mother and her child. However, this procedure can also result in injury or death. Therefore, healthcare providers should only perform this surgery when it is absolutely medically necessary. Despite these risks, a 2017 Consumer Reports study revealed that more than a quarter of healthy women with full-term babies positioned headfirst and so-called low-risk pregnancies still underwent C-sections.
4. Pacemakers
Pacemakers are a modern innovation that can help patients with heart conditions enjoy normal lives.
However, despite the high risk of injury or death during surgery, many of these procedures are medically unnecessary. In a recent study, researchers looked at the medical files of 112,000 patients with devices similar to a pacemaker. In around a quarter of cases, researchers could not find any evidence that warranted the procedure.
Life Care Planning & Expert Witness Services for Medical Malpractice Cases
Now that you know more about the top unnecessary surgeries, turn to the legal nurse consultants at Cardinal LifeCare Consulting for assistance developing an objective, evidence-based life care plan for your case. Call us today at 724-487-0519 to speak to a member of our team.
