Injured Due to a Surgical Mistake? What You Need to Know
Imagine this: you go to a doctor to receive advice and treatment for a certain health issue. He or she determines that you need surgery. Whether the surgery is minor or major, you certainly don’t expect the physician to make an error that makes your condition worse, or causes additional harm to your health and well-being. Medical malpractice attorney, Kathryn Burmeister encounters these cases often in Georgia. She advises people injured because of a surgical mistake by the surgeon, assisting medical team, or other auxiliary staff to contact her immediately for a free no-obligation consultation.
At Burmeister Law Firm, you’ll receive the full support of Ms. Burmeister. Based in Atlanta, she’ll use her significant resources, experience, network, and skillset to investigate how your surgical eam and other medical staff may have caused you additional harm due to a mistake or negligence.
Are surgical mistakes common and what are causes?
The Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 400,000 patients experience harm that was easily prevented, while in-patients at a hospital. In fact, surgical errors are the most common reason for medical malpractice claims against hospitals and the associated medical team. Over 4,000 serious surgical mistakes occur in the United States annually. Harm or injury can occur to patients before, during, or post-surgical procedure.
Common causes of surgical errors include, but are NOT limited to:
- Failure to perform appropriate diagnostic tests/labs prior to surgery
- Failure to monitor patient post-surgery for an opportunistic infection and post-operative complication
- Inadequate staffing and distractions during the surgical procedure
- Leaving surgical items (i.e. sponges, scalpels, other items) inside the patient after the procedure
- Operating on the wrong body part (i.e. right knee instead of left knee)
- Performing surgery while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Not following regulations, rules, and procedures
- Inadequate communication between surgeon, operation room nurses, anesthesiologist, other staff
- Time pressures to complete surgery in specified amount of time
- Insufficient training and education of surgeon or supporting team
The majority of surgical mistakes are due to preventable human error, such as:
- Fatigue
- Substance abuse
- Incompetence
- Negligence
- Inadequate communication
- Inadequate or incompetent staffing
Some patients may contract an infection after surgery that can be adequately treated with medication, but others may sustain permanent injury, even death due to medical negligence. Certain infections are a known risk of surgery and are not medical negligence but other infections are.
Consulting Atlanta medical malpractice lawyer, Kathryn Burmeister, will help you hold your negligent surgeon and his or her team liable for medical mistakes. If your surgeon or other medical providers have breached acceptable of care, they could be liable for a medical malpractice claim.
What do damages in medical malpractice claims include?
Damages in medical negligence and malpractice claims typically include the following:
- Reimbursement for medical bills like treatment of the injury or resulting condition
- Loss of income, benefits, and decrease in earning potential
- Scarring disabilities, disfigurement, permanent impairments
- Decreased enjoyment and quality of life (well-being)
- Costs associated with personal, in-home care
- Physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering
Medical malpractice lawyer Kathryn Burmeister will work with you to identify and document your rightful damages so you receive the highest possible settlement for your medical negligence and malpractice claim. If a physician, surgeon, or other healthcare professional has caused you injury, contact Surgical Mistakes Attorney Kathryn Burmeister today to schedule a free, no obligation consultation today. She will compassionately listen to your story and let you know about your legal rights and the financial compensation you could receive during your initial conversation.
