Compensation for Surgical Malpractice

How Surgical Errors Occur 

Because any type of surgery involves risk, a favorable outcome is never guaranteed. If a doctor's actions fall within a widely accepted medical standard of care, they most likely will not constitute malpractice. However, if you received substandard treatment that has caused you harm, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice case.

There are many types of surgical errors that can cause a patient significant injury:

• Core procedural mistakes – The surgeon makes an incision in the wrong area or operates on the wrong body part.
• Damage to adjacent tissue – A preventable accident causes injury to a nearby organ, nerves, or other tissue.
• Medication errors – The anesthesiologist fails to administer an appropriate dose of medication or fails to properly screen the patient before surgery.
• Failure to remove surgical tools – The surgeon accidentally leaves a foreign object in the patient’s body.
• Reckless or inappropriate decisions –  While fatigued or under unexpected pressure, the doctor makes an unusual, damaging decision.
• Sanitation mistakes – The surgical team or hospital fails to employ proper sterilization and sanitation practices, resulting in infection or other complications.
• Failure to monitor – A nurse or technician fails to monitor equipment or vital signs, causing injury.
• Pre-op or post-op mistakes – The doctor fails to inform the patient of risks, discharges a patient prematurely, or fails to follow up after surgery.

Proving Liability

Complex medical malpractice cases must be meticulously investigated and carefully handled. Our firm calls upon the help of medical doctors to analyze and interpret technical evidence for most malpractice claims. We work to establish clear negligence. At the same time, we document and demonstrate the resulting losses suffered by our clients.

Foley Law has been instrumental in the disbursement of multi-million dollar recoveries for a number of medical malpractice victims

In many of these cases, liability for the patient's injury is shared among several parties. A surgical malpractice case may also involve claims of hospital error, equipment malfunction (product liability), or failure to diagnose a pre-existing condition.

Damages

Many victims of surgical error contend with painful, debilitating injuries. There may be a resulting ongoing need for help with daily activities as well as several lifestyle adjustments for the victim and family. Settlements or jury awards are meant to cover these damages, including present and future medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Our firm has been instrumental in the disbursement of multi-million dollar recoveries for many medical malpractice victims.

Reach Out to Us

If you or a member of your family has suffered because of a surgeon's error, our dedicated attorneys would like to talk to you. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we do not receive our compensation until you receive yours. To schedule a free consultation, please call (800) 523-6539 or use our online form to contact us.