Surgical Malpractice
Medical negligence, or surgical malpractice, during a surgical procedure, can often result in infection, sepsis, organ damage, immune system issues, and sometimes death. Surgery requires a tremendous level of skill, and even the most minor mistake can produce dramatically negative results.
Surgical errors can occur in a variety of forms ranging from wrong-site surgery, unintentional lacerations of an internal organ, uncontrolled blood loss, perforation of an organ, or a foreign object being left in the patient’s body.
- Unintentional Laceration/Perforation
One of the most dangerous risks in any surgical procedure is that of cutting, lacerating, or perforating a vessel, artery, or organ. During surgical procedures, there are a few major ways a surgeon can make a potentially fatal mistake.
Perforation of the bowel may go unnoticed causing bile to leak into the body cavity. This can lead to severe infection and sepsis (the presence in tissues of harmful bacteria and their toxins, typically through infection of a wound) which can cause septic shock and death.
In the worst cases, internal bleeding or organ failure can cause death.
- Wrong Site Surgery
Wrong-site surgery is a type of surgical error, usually involving a miscommunication or error in hospital records which leads to a surgeon operating on the wrong organ or external appendage. This type of surgical mistake sounds far-fetched but happens causing obvious trauma. The intended problem site is not addressed and a perfectly healthy body part is damaged.
In some of the worst cases of wrong-site surgeries, patients requiring amputation of an arm or leg will have the wrong one amputated, which results in the loss of both appendages instead of just one.
- Foreign Object Left in a Patient
In other cases, a patient may begin suffering from symptoms of sepsis and infection days or weeks after a surgical procedure. One of the possible causes could be a foreign object inadvertently left in their body by the surgeon.
Most commonly, gauze or another piece of soft medical wrapping or absorbent material may accidentally be left in the body causing an infection, and potential sepsis and shock.
This type of negligent surgical practice may go unnoticed for weeks, months, or even years before the effects are even noticed, and usually require further surgery. In some cases, a patient may suffer a serious infection and ultimately die from septic shock.
If you suspect general surgery malpractice as evidenced by any of the above listed ways you may be entitled to financial compensation. The lawyers at Sweeney Law Firm specialize in medical malpractice law and will fight for you or your loved one if you have been the victim of surgical malpractice. There is no cost or obligation for us to evaluate your case. The Sweeney Law Firm works on a contingency fee basis. There is never a fee unless a recovery is made for you.
Related surgical articles on this site: Laparoscopic surgical errors, Failure to monitor during surgery, Objects left in a patient's body, Amputation errors, LASIK surgery errors, C-section, Cosmetic surgical errors, Anesthesia errors, unnecessary surgeries.