Even through surgical procedures and techniques have rapidly evolved over the last few decades, the realty is that surgeons often make mistakes. If you or a person you love has been injured by a surgical error or negligence, our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can help you and your family. We understand how a patient can be blindsided by a poorly executed surgery. Not only does the patient have to deal with physical pain, he or she typically also has to deal with lost income and the high cost of medical bills. We will thoroughly examine your case and help you figure out your next steps.
Researchers recently examined surgical adverse events that took place over a six-month time frame. The study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, shows more than 50 percent of surgical adverse events were the result of human error. Of the 5,300 surgical procedures that were looked at by the study, adverse events took place in 188 cases and comprised of: death, infection, bleeding, neurological problems, and hospital re-hospitalization. Of the 188 adverse events, human errors were recognized in 106 (in excess of half) of these events. Lack of attentiveness, lack of recognition or cognitive bias was determined to cause more than half of the human errors. More than 54.8 percent took place during surgery, 8 percent took place before the surgery and 26.6. percent occurred after the surgery. The adverse event occurrence rates were categorized in the following way:
- Performing the procedure – 51.6%
- Planning or resolving problems – 29.3%
- Communicating – 12.8%
- Working with teams- 4.8%
- Violating rules – 3.2%
When a surgeon makes a mistake, the results can be catastrophic for the patient. If you have been hurt by a surgical mistake, you may be able to sue for compensation via a medical malpractice claim. It is important to understand that a bad outcome does not automatically mean that medical malpractice took place. Instead, medical malpractice happens when a surgeon causes injury to a patient by failing to provide treatment in accordance with the standard of care that a reasonably prudent surgeon would have used under the same circumstances. In other words, the injured party must not only show that the surgeon violated the appropriate standard of care but also that the violation was a direct cause of the patient’s harm.
As the victim of malpractice, you have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. This compensation can include medical costs that pile up as a result of the medical mistake, as well as lost wages, rehabilitation costs and the pain and suffering you had to endure due to the malpractice.
If you have been hurt due to the negligence of a surgeon, you should speak to a seasoned Baltimore surgical malpractice lawyer immediately. With years of experience in the field, we have the knowledge and resources to help you after you have suffered a preventable injury due to a surgical error. Medical malpractice lawsuits are extremely complicated and having an experienced attorney on your side can make all the difference in your case. For a free case evaluation, please call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.