Surgical procedures, whether elective or emergency, come with inherent risks. Patients place immense trust in medical professionals, expecting the highest standard of care. However, when that trust is broken by a preventable surgical error, the consequences can be life-altering. If you or a loved one has experienced complications due to a surgical error in Los Lunas, NM, James Wood Law is here to help. As experienced Los Lunas surgical error lawyers, we are committed to advocating for patients and their families, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
A surgical error is a preventable mistake that occurs during surgery, resulting in harm to the patient. While all surgeries have some risk, surgical errors go beyond the expected complications. These errors often result from negligence, miscommunication, or failure to adhere to standard medical protocols. Surgical errors can lead to severe injury, prolonged recovery, additional medical expenses, and, in some cases, life-long disability or death.
Surgical errors can take many forms. Some of the most common types include:
Wrong-Site Surgery: This occurs when surgery is performed on the wrong part of the body, such as operating on the left knee instead of the right. It’s a serious mistake that can have permanent consequences.
Wrong Procedure: In some cases, a patient may undergo an entirely incorrect procedure, either due to a mix-up in records or failure to verify the surgery plan.
Wrong Patient Surgery: This grave error occurs when a patient undergoes surgery meant for another person. These cases often involve failures in hospital protocol and communication.
Foreign Objects Left Inside the Patient: Tools, sponges, and surgical instruments are sometimes left inside a patient’s body. This error can lead to infections, severe pain, and the need for additional surgery.
Nerve or Organ Damage: During surgery, nerves or nearby organs may be accidentally damaged, leading to loss of function, chronic pain, or even permanent disability.
Anesthesia Errors: Incorrect administration of anesthesia can result in extreme pain, awareness during surgery, or serious complications like brain damage or even death.
Infections: Poor sterilization practices during surgery can expose patients to harmful bacteria, leading to severe infections and sometimes sepsis.
Common Causes of Surgical Errors
The common causes of surgical errors include:
Inadequate Preoperative Planning: Proper planning is critical to any successful surgery. When medical professionals fail to adequately prepare, such as by reviewing patient history and ensuring all necessary equipment is present, the risk of errors increases.
Poor Communication: Miscommunication between surgical staff, or between medical teams and the patient, can result in critical misunderstandings. A failure to confirm procedures or to follow essential safety protocols can lead to catastrophic errors.
Fatigue: Surgeons and their teams often work long, grueling hours. Fatigue can significantly impair judgment, motor skills, and decision-making abilities, increasing the risk of errors.
Inexperience or Lack of Training: Some surgical errors occur when an inexperienced or inadequately trained medical professional is involved in the procedure. Lack of experience may lead to mistakes that a more seasoned professional might avoid.
Rushed Procedures: In some cases, the pressure to complete surgeries quickly can result in cutting corners, inadequate sterilization, or failure to follow established protocols.
Inadequate Staffing or Resources: A shortage of skilled staff or necessary medical equipment can compromise the quality of care a patient receives, leading to preventable mistakes.
How Our Team Can Help
At James Wood Law, we understand the emotional and financial toll that surgical errors take on victims and their families. Pursuing legal action against a medical provider can be daunting, but our team is here to guide you through every step of the process. Here’s how we can help:
Case Evaluation: We start with a thorough review of your case, including medical records, expert testimony, and relevant laws to determine whether a surgical error occurred.
Investigation: Our legal team conducts a comprehensive investigation to identify responsible parties and gather evidence of negligence.
Representation and Negotiation: We represent you in negotiations with insurance companies and, if necessary, in court. Our priority is to secure the maximum compensation possible for your injuries, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
No Upfront Fees: We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we win your case.
Call(888) 579-3866to find out how acaring Los Lunas surgical error lawyer from James Wood Law can help you with your case.
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