Chicago Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Lawyer
Few acts of medical negligence are as shocking and unforgivable as wrong site surgery, when a surgeon operates on the wrong body part, performs the wrong procedure, or even operates on the wrong patient. In a city known for world-class medicine like Chicago, these errors should never happen. But they do. And when they do, Ankin Law is ready to strike back.
Our Chicago Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Lawyers hold negligent hospitals, surgeons, and healthcare systems accountable for surgical mistakes. You put your life in their hands; they owed you precision, care, and competence. Instead, they left you with permanent damage, trauma, and mounting medical bills.
Wrong site surgery isn’t a simple error; it’s a catastrophic failure in communication, procedure, and professional duty. At Ankin Law, we’ve seen the toll it takes, and we fight relentlessly for victims and their families across Chicago and throughout Illinois who demand justice.
Call (312) 600-0000 to speak directly with a Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Lawyer today. Your consultation is free, confidential, and immediate.
Table of Contents
What Is Wrong Site Surgery?
A wrong site surgery occurs when a surgical procedure is performed on the wrong part of the body, wrong patient, or involves the wrong procedure altogether. It’s classified as a “never event,” something that should never happen in any safe, accredited hospital.
Types of Wrong Site Surgical Errors
There are a variety of surgical never events that qualify as wrong site surgery. These include:
Wrong Body Part
Operating on the wrong limb, organ, or side of the body, for example, amputating the left leg instead of the right, is among the most severe medical mistakes imaginable. These cases leave lifelong physical and emotional scars.
Wrong Procedure
In some cases, the surgeon performs the completely wrong operation. Patients go under anesthesia expecting one treatment and wake up with irreversible harm to which they never consented.
Wrong Patient
Errors in patient identification or chart handling can result in one patient receiving surgery meant for someone else, a tragic and entirely preventable violation of medical ethics.
Wrong Site Marking
Failure to correctly mark the surgical site or miscommunication between staff can lead to cutting into the wrong location. This error stems from systemic breakdowns in hospital protocol.
If this happened to you or someone you love, don’t wait. Call (312) 600-0000. We know how to expose negligence and demand accountability.
How Wrong Site Surgery Happens
Even though every hospital is supposed to have strict verification procedures, these surgeries continue to occur due to human error and institutional negligence.
Common Causes of Wrong Site Surgery
Common causes of wrong site surgery include:
- Miscommunication between surgical staff
- Inaccurate or incomplete patient records
- Failure to verify the surgical site before incision
- Fatigue, distraction, or time pressure on surgeons
- Incorrect site marking or documentation errors
Systemic Failures Behind Surgical Mistakes
Many of these cases are symptoms of deeper systemic issues, such as hospitals that prioritize efficiency over accuracy, understaffing, or lack of proper oversight.
Ankin Law’s Role
Our attorneys thoroughly investigate the pre-surgery and surgical process, reviewing records, communications, and medical protocols to pinpoint where the failure occurred and who’s responsible.
Building the Case
We collaborate with medical experts, reconstruct timelines, and use evidence to prove that your injuries resulted from preventable negligence.
Who Is Liable for Wrong Site Surgery in Illinois?
Liability in a wrong site surgery case generally falls on the person or entity responsible for the mistake. Determining liability in a surgical malpractice case can be complex, but that’s where we excel.
Defendants
Defendants in a wrong site surgery lawsuit could include:
- Surgeons and surgical assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Nurses and surgical techs
- Hospitals and surgical centers
- Administrative staff who mismanaged records
Holding Hospitals Accountable
Hospitals throughout Chicago and across Illinois carry a clear and non-negotiable legal duty: to enforce strict safety standards and surgical verification procedures that prevent catastrophic errors. When a wrong site surgery occurs, it’s rarely an isolated incident; it’s a systemic breakdown rooted in poor communication, negligent oversight, or a culture that prioritizes speed over safety. Hospitals are responsible for ensuring every operating room follows the “universal protocol,” verifying the patient’s identity, the procedure, and the correct surgical site before a single incision is made. When those steps are skipped or poorly managed, the hospital itself shares direct legal liability for the results.
Individual Negligence
Even the best hospitals can’t protect patients if the professionals inside cut corners. When a surgeon, nurse, anesthesiologist, or tech ignores protocol, misreads a chart, or fails to speak up about an inconsistency, the results can be life-threatening. Under Illinois law, these individuals are held personally accountable for the harm they cause. At Ankin Law, we meticulously trace each decision leading to your injury, ensuring that every negligent actor faces justice, no matter their title or position.
Shared Responsibility
In many wrong site surgery cases, the blame doesn’t fall on just one person or one institution. It’s often the product of multiple failures: a hospital that failed to enforce safety rules, a surgeon who skipped verification, or staff members who stayed silent. Ankin Law identifies and pursues every liable party, ensuring that victims receive full compensation from all sources of negligence.
Compensation in Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Cases
Victims of surgical malpractice can seek full compensation for both economic and emotional losses.
Types of Compensation Available
Victims of wrong site surgery can recover compensation for:
- Additional medical expenses
- Corrective surgeries and rehabilitation
- Lost income and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and loss of quality of life
- Punitive damages (in cases of gross negligence)
How We Maximize Recovery
Our Chicago medical malpractice attorneys know how to calculate long-term damages, including future care costs and non-economic losses, to ensure your compensation reflects the full extent of your suffering.
Call (312) 600-0000 to speak with a Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Lawyer today. We get results, not excuses.
How Ankin Law Investigates Wrong Site Surgery
At Ankin Law, our investigative process is aggressive, precise, and proven.
Step-by-Step Investigation
- Review of all surgical and hospital records
- Identification of all responsible parties
- Consultation with leading medical experts
- Gathering of witness statements and documentation
- Development of a powerful litigation strategy
The Ankin Law Advantage
With decades of medical malpractice litigation experience, our attorneys are known throughout Chicago for taking on complex hospital systems — and winning.
Signs You Were a Victim of Wrong Site Surgery
Even if your healthcare team hasn’t admitted fault, these red flags could indicate that a surgical error occurred:
- Unexpected pain or scarring in an unrelated area
- Missing or altered body part contrary to your consent
- Need for immediate corrective surgery
- Hospital reluctance to provide records
- Conflicting medical explanations
If any of these sound familiar, contact Ankin Law immediately for a case review. We will uncover the truth.
Filing a Wrong Site Surgery Lawsuit in Illinois
In Illinois, medical malpractice claims are governed by strict deadlines and procedural rules.
Statute of Limitations
You generally have two years from the date of discovery of injury to file, but the sooner you act, the stronger your evidence.
Legal Requirements
Your claim must include an affidavit of merit from a qualified healthcare professional. Ankin Law handles this process for you from start to finish.
Our Commitment
We move fast, preserving evidence, building expert testimony, and fighting relentlessly in court for your rights.
Why Choose Ankin Law
When your surgeon fails you, you need a law firm that doesn’t back down. Ankin Law has earned a powerful reputation across Chicago for taking on hospitals, surgeons, and insurance companies — and winning.
What We Bring to the Table
- Over 75 years of combined experience
- Proven success in complex malpractice cases
- Free, no-obligation consultations
FAQs About Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice
How common is wrong site surgery?
Wrong site surgery is estimated to occur several times a day nationwide, but even one instance is too many.
How much is my case worth?
The value of your wrong site surgery case depends on the severity of your injuries, long-term impact, and evidence of negligence. Our team will calculate your damages accurately.
What if the hospital apologized or admitted the mistake?
An apology doesn’t erase liability. You still have the right to full compensation. Let our Chicago Wrong Site Surgery Malpractice Lawyers take it from here.
Take Action Now
Wrong site surgery is a betrayal of trust, and the team at Ankin Law won’t let it stand. Whether your case involves a major Chicago hospital or a private clinic, we’ll uncover every failure, confront every defendant, and fight for justice.
Call (312) 600-0000 to get started with your free consultation with Chicago’s wrong site surgery malpractice lawyers who don’t back down.