By: Erin Moore for Body1A Rhode Island hospital was fined $50,000 for its third surgical error this year. The Rhode Island Department of Health reprimanded Rhode Island Hospital for performing three surgeries on the wrong body part in recent months. All errors were during operations on the brain and the most recent incident involved an 82-year-old woman in the neurosurgical intensive care unit.
Since the latest incident, the hospital has required an attending physician to be present during the entirety of neurosurgical procedures, and the state has mandated that a second physician review the surgery site prior. The Department of Health is currently monitoring the situation.
When it comes to hospitalizations, be your own advocate and double check if you are unsure. Take steps like marking which part of your body surgery is planned for, and try to get appointments earlier in the day and the week. Leaning on friends and family can help too.
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