Amputation of the Wrong Limb
Amputations are surgeries performed by doctors, during which the doctor removes a part or an entire section of the body. Fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet and legs are common amputated body parts. An accidental amputation is when a person loses a body part due to trauma. An amputation of the wrong limb is when a doctor performs a surgery but erroneously amputates the wrong limb. This is a devastating mistake, one that leads to undue pain and suffering by the patient.
Amputation of the wrong limb is not uncommon. Recent cases include an arthroscopic operation on a patient’s wrong knee, the amputation of the wrong leg below the knee, and even performing surgery on the wrong side of a patient’s mouth (which is akin to amputation of the wrong limb).
The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations released steps for surgeons to follow to avoid amputation of the wrong limb. It asked doctors, hospitals and nurses to:
- mark the operative site and involve patients in the process. Many surgeons put an “X” on the site to be operated and a “NO” on the site to be avoided.
- require oral verification of the correct site by each member of the operating team.
- follow a verification checklist that makes sure this is the correct body part, and that the body part indeed is in need of amputation.
- directly involve the operating surgeon in the informed consent process.
- engage in ongoing monitoring to make sure verification procedures are followed.