Surgery is often necessary to correct a condition or save a patient’s life from a serious injury. When you undergo surgery, elective or emergency, you should recover from the procedure knowing that the surgery was performed within the required standard of care. Unfortunately, surgical errors do occur, and if an error involved the negligence of the surgical team or hospital, you may have a New York medical malpractice claim. When you feel you have been the victim of a serious injury, complication, or the wrongful death of a loved one because of surgical errors, you may need the help of a New York medical malpractice lawyer to file a claim. You are entitled to the cost of the initial surgery, plus any subsequent treatments needed to correct the surgical errors, as well as other damages.
Types of Surgical Errors Resulting in Medical Malpractice Claims
Surgery is a risky event no matter how minor, especially if you are not under the care of an attentive and professional surgical team. Complex surgery can take teams of more than 20 members and last several hours, leaving plenty of room for surgical errors to occur. When you are harmed by surgical errors, the help of a professional New York medical malpractice lawyer can give you the opportunity to recover damages from your injuries. One of the most common surgical errors is the failure to identify and respond to potential surgical complications. During the pre-operative stages the surgical team should be aware of any allergies, drug interactions, or patient abnormalities that may complicate the surgery.
Complications that cannot be remedied before surgery should be well noted and watched for during the surgical procedure. During surgery, many surgical errors result from ineffective communication between the surgical team. Incorrectly marked incision sites often result in wrong-site surgery. Surgical errors in the administration of anesthesia can result in permanent brain damage, coma, or even death. Improper equipment monitoring can result in unsterile equipment being used or surgical implements being left inside the body. Surgical errors resulting in New York medical malpractice claims can also take place following the surgery. Inadequate post-operative care is the cause of many complications. Failure to give the patient adequate instruction upon discharge can result in undoing the surgical procedure. Improper follow-up cleaning can result in infections or septic shock.
