Columbia Post Operative Care Negligence Lawyer
Post operative care negligence refers to medical malpractice committed after surgery, such as failure to diagnose a patient’s hemorrhaging or adverse reaction to anesthesia. Post operative care negligence can delay healing, cause secondary health problems, require additional surgery or treatment that would have been unnecessary. Some patients who suffer post operative care are not made aware of their surgeon or doctor’s post operative negligence until years later. Fortunately, the statute of limitations is three years in South Carolina, which means you have three years from either the date of the incident or three years from when you were aware of the problem to file a medical malpractice claim. Simmons Law Firm is here to help you choose your next steps contact a Columbia post operative care negligence lawyer.
Nine Common Post Operative Care Errors
- Infection / Sepsis—Failure to keep a wound or opening clean after operation can lead to infection, and infection can result in sepsis—a deadly condition that causes death if not immediately treated with intravenous antibiotics. If sepsis occurs, the body goes into shock and organs begin to fail.
- Shock—Sending a patient home who has very low blood pressure due to blood loss can result in shock. Post operative shock needs to be treated immediately, or the condition can worsen, resulting in unconsciousness and/or improper blood flow, and oxygen supply, to organs.
- Hemorrhage—A hemorrhage is internal bleeding, and is common postoperative. Rapid and prolonged hemorrhage results in serious blood loss. Untreated hemorrhaging can result in coma, seizure, organ failure, and even death, according to Medical News Today.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis—DVT is the formation of blood clots in deep veins, according to the Mayo Clinic. Blood clots in these veins may block blood flow to the heart, which causes death or damage to the heart.
- Pulmonary Complications—The inhalation of food, water, or blood following surgery can cause pulmonary complications and even infection. Sending a patient home with a pulmonary complication can lead to pneumonia or long term chest pain, fever, or wheezing.
- Urinary Retention—Following surgery and the use of anesthesia, some patients are unable to urinate due to urine retention. Treatment via a catheter is used until the patient is able to control their bladder once again.
- Anesthesia Complications—An allergic reaction to anesthesia can be a life-threatening condition, and must be treated immediately. Patients displaying dangerous signs of anesthesia complications should not be released from the hospital.
- Blood Clots— Following surgery, it may be necessary to perform light exercise, use compression sleeves, or use medications to reduce the risk of blood clotting. Blood clotting following surgery can cause stroke, heart failure, organ damage, or death.
- Failure to Remove Stitches, Staples, Packing, or Hardware—A common postoperative medical mistake is failure to remove staples, stitches, embedded packing, or other devices during post-operative care.
Call Our Columbia Post Operative Care Negligence Attorneys at Simmons Law Firm Today
Healthcare does not end with surgery. Your medical team has an obligation to see through your treatment by administering a high quality of care during post operation procedures and check ups. This includes your time immediately following surgery while you are still in the hospital, and in the days or weeks after you have been discharged. If you were injured during post operation, call Simmons Law Firm today at 803-779-4600 to schedule a consultation.
