Louisville Surgical Error Attorney

When admitted to a hospital, patients are given an identification wristband with their name, date of birth, and any information about potential allergies. This is the first precaution to ensure the patient can avoid a sentinel event, which is a “patient safety event that results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm.” Despite precautions like this, data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 400,000 patients die from medical errors every year.

Some of the deadliest types of medical errors are surgical errors. When a patient is undergoing surgery, their body is already in a very vulnerable state where any small mistake can have major implications. If you or a loved one has been harmed during a surgical procedure, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced Louisville surgical error lawyer from McCoy & Hiestand, PLC can guide you on the best course of action for your claim.

There is a risk with any type of surgical procedure. A patient might have an adverse reaction to anesthesia, but the only way to find out is if the patient has undergone the procedure. There are also inherent medical complications with a patient that could lead to unexpected issues. However, you can’t ignore the fact that human error can contribute to injuries.

One of the most common types of surgical errors is wrong-site procedures. According to information collected by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), wrong-site surgery accounted for 6% of sentinel events. This is how the procedures break down:

• Spinal surgery – 22.1%
• Arthroscopy – 14.7%
• Procedures on muscles and tendons – 11.8%

In addition to wrong-site procedures, there are other surgical errors that could lead to injury or a wrongful death. Consider the following:

• Operating on the wrong patient
• Performing an operation that is not related to a patient’s diagnosis
• Leaving a foreign object, such as a sponge or surgical instrument, in a patient’s body
• Causing injuries to organs that are near the surgical site
• Causing nerve damage during surgery
• Using the wrong medication during surgery
• Anesthesia errors
• Not following infection prevention protocols
• Failure to acknowledge the clinical signs and symptoms of a possible complication

When surgical errors occur, it can lead to the need for additional surgical procedures, pain, mobility dysfunction, scarring, and, in extreme cases, death. Whatever the outcome, you must talk to your Louisville surgical error lawyer to determine what should come next.

At McCoy & Hiestand, PLC, our Louisville surgical error lawyers can thoroughly analyze your case to decide if proceeding is the best option. We offer a free case evaluation that begins with informing you about your rights as a patient who was the victim of a surgical error.

If we take on the case, we’ll activate our network of investigators and medical professionals that can look into all aspects of what went wrong in your surgery. That investigation might reveal that there is more than one party that is liable for your injuries. In addition to the surgeon, there could be faults found with the anesthesiologist, nurses, and hospital.

We bring our years of experience to help determine the amount of your losses. In addition to the losses associated with any additional corrective measures needed to rectify the surgical error, there could also be an amount allowed for cover for your pain and suffering. That can include compensation for how the surgical error has diminished your quality of life.

Finally, we will ensure that if your case has merit, you file it within the one-year statute of limitations. That time starts when you discover injuries due to the surgical procedure. You don’t want the time to lapse without getting what is due. Call to schedule your case evaluation today.