10 Ways Surgeons Can Make Your Injury Worse

Before having surgery, your surgeon should explain the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure you are undergoing. All surgical procedures have some risk for the patient. Surgeons and physicians cannot guarantee a specific outcome. They do their best for the patient, but some things are out of the surgeon’s control.

However, in some cases, a patient’s condition becomes worse because of the negligence and malpractice of the surgeon. When a patient suffers additional injuries, or the patient’s condition becomes worse, the surgeon may be held liable for the injuries and damages. It can be difficult to know when an injury or condition is a typical risk of the surgery or medical malpractice. If you are unsure whether your surgeon committed medical malpractice, you can discuss your situation with a New York medical malpractice attorney.

10 Things a Surgeon Can Do To Make Your Injury Worse

  1. Leaving surgical tools or instruments inside the patient, such as sponges, scalpels, and clamps.
  2. Operating on the wrong surgical site, such as performing knee surgery on the right knee when the problem is the left knee.
  3. Failing to monitor for avoidable infections or failure to treat infections promptly.
  4. Causing damage to the organs, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tissues surrounding the surgical site.
  5. Failing to recognize symptoms before, during, or after surgery that indicate a problem or condition that should be treated.
  6. A mistake during the surgery created an emergency that resulted in an additional injury, such as the removal of another organ or repair to an organ.
  7. Performing the wrong surgical procedure.
  8. Failing to order the necessary tests before surgery that are required to identify any potential problems that could impact the success of the surgery or the health of the patient during surgery.
  9. Using defective or dangerous medical devices and equipment that has been recalled by the manufacturer or FDA.
  10. Failing to obtain informed consent from the patient, including informing the patient of all potential risks associated with the surgical procedure.

Medical Malpractice Has Serious Consequences for Victims and Families

The consequences of medical malpractice can be catastrophic. Some patients may sustain permanent disabilities and impairments that prevent them from working or returning to their normal routines and activities before surgery. In some cases, a patient may need ongoing medical and personal care because of a surgical error. The potential outcomes of a surgical error include paralysis, brain damage, amputations, loss of organ function, and death.

If a surgeon has injured you, you may be entitled to compensation for your:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Physical pain
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Emotional suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Permanent impairment or disability

Contact a New York Medical Malpractice Attorney if You Have Questions

Not all cases involve medical malpractice. Sometimes poor results are not the result of medical malpractice. A New York medical malpractice attorney can review your case to determine if you have a medical malpractice claim against your surgeon.  Contact our New York surgical malpractice attorneys today to discuss your options. We assist patients who have been injured because of surgical errors seek the compensation they deserve.

About the Author
Of all the different areas in medical malpractice, it is podiatry malpractice that has had a particular interest to me. With 42 years practicing law and representing hundreds of victims of malpractice, I have created a law practice in which my clients are comfortable knowing that their case is being handled with my personal attention, in the most professional manner, and without unreasonable delays.