Rhode Island Hospital Fined for Fifth Surgical Error
Posted on Nov 12, 2009 2:14pm PST
News sources are reporting that a hospital in Providence, Rhode Island is being fined for committing a
surgical error. In fact, since 2007, Rhode Island Hospital has been fined five times for operating on the wrong body part. This means that five patients have undergone surgery only to discover that surgeons performed wrong site operations.
The Rhode Island Department of Health recently fined the hospital $150,000 after one surgeon operated on the wrong finger of a patient this past month. Aside from having to pay the hefty fine, the hospital will now have to install video cameras in every operating room and all surgeries performed will be watched closely by a clinical professional. The state's Department of Health believes this measure will lead to reduced instances of surgical errors while protecting patients' safety.
Prior to this instance, Rhode Island Hospital was already being subjected to ridicule after surgeons performed three separate brain surgeries and operated on the wrong parts of patients' brains. After the errors occurred, the hospital said that it would make proper reforms, but had shown little follow through.
In the United States, patient safety analysis is determined by HealthGrades. According to the analysis, Rhode Island Hospital was average in overall patient safety.
If you have been harmed by a surgical error in
Rhode Island,
click here to find a medical malpractice lawyer!