Experienced Louisville Surgical Error Lawyer Explains How Medical Mistakes Happen In The Operating Room
Surgical procedures always involve risk. For example, a patient may have a poor reaction to general anesthesia, or have a medical condition that leads to complications. Before you undergo surgery, your surgeon will review all of the most common risks and complications, as well as go over your medical history in order to understand if you have any elevated risks.
However, while some surgery complications are not preventable – and even, in some cases, expected – others should have never taken place. In these cases, patients are harmed, or even fatally injured, due to doctor negligence, hospital negligence, or a defective medical device; they deserve full compensation for their injuries, financial losses, and other damages.
At Gladstein Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping Kentucky medical malpractice victims understand their cases, know their legal options, and get the support that they need to find justice. To schedule a free, confidential case review, please contact our Louisville surgical error lawyer online today or call (800) 991-0474.
Common Surgical Errors in Kentucky
There are a limitless number of ways that negligence can lead to injury in the operating room. For example, we have heard of cases of doctors operating while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, or con artists who are lying about having a medical license.
However, some surgical errors are much more common than others:
- Operating on the wrong limb or body part.
- Operating on the wrong patient.
- Performing an operation that is not related to a patient’s diagnosis.
- Leaving a foreign object, such as a sponge or surgical instrument, in a patient’s body.
- Causing injuries to organs that are near the surgical site.
- Causing nerve damage during surgery.
- Using the wrong medication during surgery, or the wrong dose of medication.
- Making an anesthesia error.
- Keeping the patient under general anesthesia for too long.
- Failure to properly wash hands before the operation or to sterilize operating equipment.
- Failure to acknowledge the clinical signs and symptoms of a possible complication.
Under the law, doctors must uphold a reasonable standard of care. This means that patients have the right to expect medical care that is on a level of expertise equal to that of other doctors. If your doctor does not meet this standard of care, you may be able to file a surgical error claim.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm today online
or by calling 502-791-9000.
How You Can Help Prevent Surgical Errors
Few patients know that they can take small actions to reduce their chances of being the victim of malpractice. Here are a few things that you can do before and after surgery to protect your health:
- Make certain that your doctors and nurses know about all medications you take, as well as all of your allergies.
- Make certain that your doctors know about any health conditions that you have.
- If your surgery is on one side of your body, write WRONG SIDE on the healthy side of your body before the procedure.
- Research your surgeon to check on his or her history of medical malpractice.
- Have a loved one attend all doctor appointments with you, so that someone else knows about both the operation and your health.
- Research your health condition, as well as the procedure, so that you are well informed.
- Pay close attention when the doctor reviews possible risks and complications.
- After surgery, be sure that you are familiar with the common signs and symptoms of complications.
- Do not ignore nagging pain or symptoms after an operation.
- Always follow up on test results – do not assume that no news is good news.
- Always speak up if you have a concern or question.
Remember: It is not your responsibility to prevent medical or surgical errors. Your doctor should be the one in charge of knowing your medical history, organizing the procedure, executing the operation, and making certain that any and all complications are caught early and treated correctly.
Contact Gladstein Law Firm today online
or by calling 502-791-9000.
Speak With An Experienced Surgical Malpractice Attorney in Louisville, KY
It is vital to understand that many doctors and hospitals will not apologize for a mistake, or even tell you what really happened in the operating room. For this reason, it’s imperative to request your medical records and speak to a Louisville surgical error lawyer who can examine the evidence in your case.
Stop wondering whether your surgical error was caused by negligence. Request a free, private case review with Louisville surgical error attorney Seth Gladstein, and know once and for all whether or not you should pursue a claim. To schedule an appointment, please call our team today at (502) 791-9000 or toll-free at (800) 991-0474. You may also fill out our online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Types of Malpractice Cases We Represent
We represent Kentucky victims in a variety of medical error cases, including:
Call us today for a free consultation!
