Have You Been A Victim Of Surgical Malpractice?

Surgery

There is an inherent risk to patients who go in for any type of surgery.  Even though you expect that your surgeon, anesthesiologist, and other health care professionals will be careful, this does not always occur.  Negligence of health care professionals can lead to serious injuries.  Types of surgical errors can range from errors pertaining to pre-operative care, unwarranted procedures, and perforations of internal organs by surgical instruments during the surgical procedure.

Every year there are thousands of people affected by surgical errors that could have been prevented.  Despite the high esteem of the medical profession for the quality of its performance this estimation brings up serious concerns regarding the safety standards of the quality of care provided by the medical profession today.

Examples of Surgical Errors:

  • Organ puncture or perforation
  • Bowel perforation
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Failed cataract surgery
  • Gastric bypass surgery malpractice
  • Wrong site surgery
  • Performing the wrong procedure
  • Incorrect incisions
  • Delayed surgery
  • Prolonged surgery
  • Poor surgical technique
  • Using contaminated instruments
  • Leaving surgical instruments in the body
  • Anesthesia errors

Injuries that can occur because of surgical malpractice can include:

  • Bleeding
  • Blood clots
  • Brain damage
  • Cardiovascular problems
  • Coma
  • Death
  • Delayed healing
  • Injuries to nearby structures
  • Nerve damage
  • Organ damage
  • Paralysis
  • Physical deformity
  • Post-surgical infection
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Psychological and emotional problems
  • Septic shock

The danger for surgical errors does not end once the patient leaves the operating room.  Post-operative surgical complications can still occur.  These types of complications depend on the type of surgery performed.  Complications can occur immediately after the surgery or weeks or months later.  Examples of post-operative surgical complications include:

  • Adverse drug events
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Disordered healing
  • Infection
  • Hemorrhage
  • Pain
  • Pneumonia and other respiratory complications
  • Thromboembolism
  • Urinary problems (including renal failure)

Surgical Error Outcomes

There is a range of outcomes of surgical errors, and they can often leave the patient suffering from lifelong complications.  A new way of living may need to be adapted to by not only the victim, but also the victim’s family.  Some victims may be able to return to the way they lived pre-surgery.  Others however will struggle with permanent disability, chronic pain and suffering, and shorter life spans.

In cases where the victim has died, the family will be left with the loss of their loved one, in addition to the loss of financial support, funeral and medical expenses, loss of inheritance, and in cases where children are involved, the loss of nurture and guidance that the deceased parent would have provided.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of surgical malpractice, you should contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.

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