Columbia Surgical Errors Lawyer
Surgical errors comprise some of the most devastating medical malpractice claims we at Simmons Law Firm handle. The negligence of a surgeon can result in life-long debilitation, or death. Tragically, these outcomes are avoidable. While it is true that even the most skilled surgeons are still human, and therefore make mistakes, you and your loved ones should not have to bear the brunt of the financial harms caused by a surgical error. Our Columbia surgical error lawyers assist injured parties in pursuing maximum compensation for their damages related to mistakes made at the hands of negligent surgeons, and can help you secure financial compensation to pay for ongoing medical costs, lost earning ability, pain and suffering, and much more.
Not All Surgeries That Go Wrong are Acts of Negligence
There is some degree of risk involved in every surgery, no matter how routine or simple. Whenever a patient is anesthetized or cut open, there is a chance that something can go seriously wrong. As such, not all surgical mistakes are acts of negligence. The riskier and more difficult the surgery, the less liability a surgeon or hospital has when it comes to an undesirable outcome. If a surgeon upholds the “standard of care” for the region, the type of patient, and the specific procedure, and something goes wrong anyways, they generally cannot be held liable. The following
Risk Involved With Various Surgeries
According to Hopkins Medicine, some of the most common types of surgical procedures include mastectomies, hysterectomies, coronary bypasses, C-sections, appendectomies, breast biopsies, and prostatectomies. These surgeries, while common, are all over the board in terms of risk—a coronary bypass surgery has much greater consequences than a breast biopsy. Hospitals, such as the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), categorize surgeries based on risk stratification, with Very Low Risk being a Level 1 and Very High Risk being a Level 5. Examples of low risk surgeries include eye surgery, GI endoscopy (without stents), and dental procedures, whereas very high risk surgeries include aortic surgery, cardiac surgery, intra-thoracic procedures with lung resection, and major transplant surgeries. Victims of surgical errors can file medical malpractice claims regardless of the risk level involved in the surgery if the practitioner failed to uphold the standard of care.
Common Examples of Surgical Errors
- Anesthesia errors;
- Unnecessary surgical procedures;
- Infection;
- Damage to surrounding organs, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and bones;
- Leaving behind surgical instruments within the patient; and
- Failure to address complications.
Call a Surgical Error Attorney at Simmons Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one were harmed by an unnecessary or incorrect surgery, an anesthesia mistake, an avoidable infection, damage to surrounding tissue, or another type of surgical error, call the Columbia surgical error attorneys at Simmons Law Firm today at 803-779-4600 to schedule a free consultation. We can help you hold the at-fault party responsible for the serious damages they have caused, and will do everything in our power to recover your medical expenses, lost income, loss of joy of life, pain and suffering, and more.
