Surgical Injuries Due to Medical Malpractice
Suffering Damages? Talk to Our Baltimore Injury Firm!
Unfortunately, surgical errors are all too common and often lead to wrongful death or other injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to negligence during a surgical procedure, The Law Office of Snyder & Snyder, P.A. is here to help. Our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers have the expertise and skills to stand up for your rights.
Some examples of surgical errors caused by medical malpractice:
- Operating on the wrong person
- Performing the surgery incorrectly
- Operating on the wrong area of the body
- Organ damage / surgical site infections
- Anesthesia errors or medication issues
- Not reacting properly to an emergency or complication
- Failure to fully assess a patient’s health, leading to complications
- Leaving behind surgical instruments or other items in the patient
- Failure to collect informed consent of patient prior to operation
No matter the type of error, you can suffer serious and devastating health consequences as a result. More than that, a surgeon must fully advise you as a patient of all the associated risks and alternative options you have prior to beginning the procedure.
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If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to surgical negligence, call our firm now for a consultation.
Get a Free Case ReviewIdentifying Responsible Parties in Surgical Cases
Surgical errors can commonly occur during routine procedures, including colonoscopies, appendix surgery, gall bladder surgery, and plastic surgery. It may also happen post-surgery while the patient is recovering as a result of malpractice on the part of nurses or doctors.
Medical and surgical errors are the responsibility of the facility and individuals who administered medical care, regardless of the nature of the procedure. The Law Office of Snyder & Snyder, P.A. accepts a limited number of cases each year in order to devote our full attention and legal skill to cases that call for it. When you come to us, we can help you determine who is at fault and work on holding them accountable.
Call our Baltimore firm’s medical malpractice attorneys at (410) 983-3535 if you are ready to fight for justice.
Surgical Injuries FAQ
Are Surgical Injuries Common?
In 2003, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JDAHO) received 5 to 8 reports of surgical errors each month. According to JDAHO, the vast majority of surgical errors involved wrong-site surgery.
A study published in the journal Surgery in 2012 indicated that there were 9,744 paid malpractice claims for serious surgical errors between September 1990 and September 2010. These errors involved some of the worst surgical mistakes, such as operating on the wrong body part, operating on the wrong person, or leaving surgical equipment inside the patient’s body. That number doesn’t even include the number of unfiled or unpaid incidents that took place!
What Are Some Examples of Surgical Injuries?
Common surgical injuries include:
- Surgery site infection
- Organ complications or failure
- Loss of limb
- Internal bleeding
- Damage to muscles
These types of injuries can be caused by a surgeon’s inattention, inexperience, impairment, poor technique or communication error.
What Is a “Never” Event?
A “never” event is an inexcusable action by a health care professional. Injuries caused by a “never” event are extremely preventable. Researchers at Johns Hopkins estimate that more than 4,000 “never” events occur in the U.S. each year. They found that many of the “never” events were caused by surgeons who had previously been accused of medical malpractice. While not all surgical errors must be reported, hospitals are required to report “never” events that result in a settlement or judgment to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Leaving a foreign object in a patient’s body, operating on the wrong patient, and performing surgery on the wrong body part are all considered “never” events.
How Do I Know if My Injury Was Caused by Surgical Error?
A surgeon is required to follow a standard of care that is customary for their particular area of practice. When they deviate from that standard of care, they put their patients at risk. When investigating allegations of surgical errors, a medical malpractice lawyer will consult with an expert who is familiar with the surgical standard of care and determine whether the surgeon’s negligence caused the surgical injury.
What Type of Compensation Can I Receive for My Surgical Injury?
If you are a victim of a surgical injury, you could be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses associated with the surgical mistake, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses. If a loved one has died from a surgical injury, you could be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to seek compensation for their medical expenses, funeral expenses, and other damages. A Maryland medical malpractice lawyer will help you determine whether you are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Need a Baltimore Medical Malpractice Lawyer?
Hospitals and insurance companies are generally equipped with talented legal teams that protect their assets. If a surgeon is negligent, the hospital or insurance company may offer to settle the case. It is important to realize that these companies may offer far less than you actually deserve. While the settlement may initially seem generous, you may quickly learn that the amount is insufficient to cover your losses. A Baltimore medical malpractice attorney knows exactly how to investigate surgical injury cases and can help you maximize your chance of legal victory.
The Law Office of Snyder & Snyder, P.A. is here to help. Call our firm today at (410) 983-3535.