Each year simple and safe surgeries turn into dangerous and sometimes fatal situations due to surgical complications and errors. At times complications may be unexpected and occur by no fault of medical professionals, however, many unfortunate situations result from poor decisions or inappropriate methods during surgical procedures. A study by Johns Hopkins University calculated more than 250,000 deaths per year are due to medical error in the United States.
With so many factors surrounding surgical procedures and such a large potential for things to go wrong, it is important to be aware what type of recourse may be available should an error occur in your situation. If you or a loved one is a victim of complications arising from a surgical procedure, contact a Virginia medical malpractice lawyer today. The attorneys at Emroch & Kilduff specialize in surgical error cases and can help you understand your rights. Don’t hesitate to contact them today.
Types of Surgical Errors
Medical professionals are required to following certain standards and protocols in the administration of surgical procedures. When they fail to do so, however, patients can be seriously injured. Here are some common types of surgical errors that typically entitle victims to compensation:
- Administration of the wrong dosage of drugs
- Anesthesiology error
- Neglecting protocols – unsterile equipment or defective instruments resulting in infection and other dangerous conditions
- Other miscommunications – misidentify and operate on the wrong patient, unaccounted for surgical equipment and sponges, etc.
- Planning error – patient needs vary with every surgical procedure taking into account medical history and current medications indicating any particular risks or complications to be avoided
- Surgical site error – operating on the wrong body part
- Operating on the wrong patient
The various complications that could follow a surgery can result in long-term physical limitations, disability or even death. Should you or a family member be faced with one of these unfortunate medical errors, it is important to understand your rights as a victim. Because medical malpractice cases are often complicated and require the assistance of expert witnesses, victims should be certain to retain an experienced medical malpractice lawyer to represent them. In addition, victims and their families should NOT accept any settlement offers they receive before speaking with a lawyer. Doing so could result in significant uncompensated losses.
Contact a Virginia Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation
Surgical errors are never acceptable and should be addressed by an experienced Virginia medical malpractice attorney. Your case will likely require a thorough look at your medical and hospital records, interviews with medical staff involved and other relevant information to determine if you may have a claim. In order to recover any damages for your injury, the medical professional’s negligent care must be proven in violation of the standard of medical care for Virginia medical professionals. That violation must also be the direct cause of injury.
The attorneys at Emroch & Kilduff specialize in helping victims of surgical errors recover and offer free case evaluations. Contact us today at (804) 358-1568 or send us an email through our online contact form.