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What are never events?

On Behalf of | Oct 10, 2024 | Medical Malpractice

In a medical setting, a never event is something that quite simply should not occur under any circumstances. It’s not just a bad outcome, such as a surgery that isn’t successful. It’s something that should not have happened  – but that did anyway – and it may constitute medical malpractice.

That doesn’t mean that all negative outcomes stem from never events. Doctors are not perfect, and they cannot save or assist every single patient, depending on a wide variety of factors. But if a never event took place and caused harm, then the patient or their family may be able to seek compensation.

What are some examples?

Examples of never events include, but are not limited to, the following:

  1. Carrying out a surgical procedure on the wrong patient or the wrong body part 
  2. Performing the wrong surgery entirely 
  3. Discharging a patient who has serious injuries and needs medical care 
  4. Giving a patient contaminated drugs or faulty devices that cause harm
  5. Prescribing a patient two different drugs that have a dangerous or even fatal interaction when taken at the same time 
  6. Allowing a metal object to be taken into an MRI room, causing harm to the person undergoing the scan
  7. Leaving surgical instruments behind after the surgery is complete
  8. Failing to monitor a patient’s vital signs during surgery
  9. Any type of criminal event, such as abuse or assault

Even though these are known as never events, that doesn’t mean that they never happen. They do, but they demonstrate that it may be the hospital or the liable physician. Those who have suffered harm need to know what legal steps to take.