If a surgical error as a result of hospital negligence, a surgeon’s error, or an anesthesiologist’s mistake caused harm to you or a loved one, Fieger Law is here for you. Geoffrey Fieger and his team have helped hundreds of medical malpractice patients receive the compensation they were entitled to because of a surgical error.

INFORMATION REGARDING SURGICAL ERRORS

When it comes to medical malpractice, surgical errors represent some of the most catastrophic and expensive cases. When a patient undergoes surgery, they trust their healthcare professionals with their lives. Unfortunately, surgical errors still happen far too often despite new advancements in training, technology, and medical procedures. 

Common examples of surgical errors include:

  • Anesthesia mistakes
  • Surgical instruments left inside patients
  • Miscommunication prior to surgery
  • Incorrect or illegible information in patient’s chart
  • Wrong patient surgery (patient mix-up)
  • Failure to receive the desired surgical outcome 

Surgical error injuries to patients include:

Steps to Take Immediately After a Surgical Error

If you suspect you or a loved one has experienced a surgical error, taking immediate action is crucial. Here are some important steps to follow:

  1. Seek a second medical opinion from another doctor or hospital immediately. Getting an independent evaluation could confirm if an error took place and what actions are needed.
  2. Obtain and make copies of all your medical records related to the surgery and subsequent treatment. These will serve as vital evidence if you decide to pursue a malpractice claim.
  3. Document everything in detail: the surgery, recovery process, additional treatments needed, communication with medical staff, and any ongoing symptoms or complications.
  4. Notify the medical facility and surgeon in writing about your concerns over the potential surgical error. This establishes an official record.
  5. Consult an experienced medical malpractice attorney. They can investigate what happened, determine if negligence occurred, and advise you on your legal rights and options.

Acting quickly helps preserve critical evidence and improves your chances of obtaining justice and maximum compensation. The aftermath of a surgical error can be overwhelming, but taking these organized steps ensures you are not only protecting your health but also your legal rights.

How to Recognize Surgical Errors

While life-threatening surgical mistakes like operating on the wrong body part are obvious, many surgical errors can be harder to immediately identify. These may include:

  • Excessive bleeding or blood loss during surgery
  • Infection at the surgical site
  • Organs being punctured or damaged
  • Surgical instruments or materials being left inside the body
  • Incorrect dose or type of anesthesia administered
  • Failure to properly monitor vital signs during surgery

Complications from these types of errors can sometimes be confused with normal side effects. However, if you experience persistent issues, worsening symptoms, or anything that simply doesn’t seem right during your recovery, listen to your instincts. Consulting another doctor is critical to shed light on whether substandard care occurred.

Types of Compensation for Victims of Surgical Errors

When surgical errors occur because of negligence, victims may be entitled to compensation for damages such as:

  • All related medical expenses
  • Lost wages for time off work and diminished future earning capacity
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress, anguish, and diminished quality of life
  • Loss of consortium or companionship with spouses/partners
  • Punitive damages if the surgeon’s misconduct was malicious or grossly negligent

In tragic cases of death resulting from surgical errors, families can also pursue wrongful death claims for losses like funeral expenses, lost income and benefits, and loss of love and companionship.

Our medical malpractice lawyers at Fieger Law have recovered numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for victims of surgical malpractice. We’ll fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available.

FIEGER LAW: NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE LAWYERS FIGHTING FOR YOU

In 2015, Fieger Law fought for a woman’s family after she went to the hospital with jaw pain. She was inexplicably subjected to an unnecessary brain surgery that ended in her death. Our investigation and subsequent lawsuit revealed the truth: the doctors had operated on the wrong patient.

We secured her family $21 million and shined a light on that hospital’s horrible mistake. If that family had never called us, those doctors never would have admitted their error. More than money or support, our medical malpractice experts provide our clients with the closure that comes from getting answers.

If your family has suffered due to a surgical error, Geoffrey Fieger and his team at Fieger Law can help.