Ohio Surgical Error Lawyer

Surgical Malpractice

Any surgical procedure carries an underlying risk. But negligence from those performing these procedures significantly increases that risk. Surgical errors can occur prior to the actual operation, during the pre-operative assessment, after the surgery, and even during the surgery itself.

Surgical negligence can cause long-lasting consequences, including additional medical expenses, longer hospital stays, permanent injuries, and for nearly 100,000 Americans every year – death.

Surgeons, surgical staff, anesthesiologists, and nurses can be responsible for one or more surgical errors occurring. If a medical provider causes you or a loved one harm during a surgical procedure, you may have a malpractice claim. To navigate the complex claim process and achieve the best result, contact the Ohio medical malpractice attorneys at Kisling, Nestico & Redick. We’ll help you obtain the compensation to which you’re entitled.

For a free consultation, call 1-800-HURT-NOW, or contact us online.

Surgical Errors & Medical Malpractice

Many surgical procedures carry risks, including those anesthesia-related reactions, blood clots, and cardiovascular issues. However, medical care facilities, surgical professionals, and doctors are not immune from liability because they have your sign consent forms.

Surgical malpractice requires you to demonstrate that the standard of care applicable to the surgery was violated. It must also be established that had a preventable error not occurred or another action been taken, the outcome for the patient would have been much better.

What Causes Surgical Errors?

There are various reasons why a surgical error can occur. Issues such as failing to follow proper procedure, hospital negligence, direct negligence of a medical personnel (surgeon, doctor, nurse), and understaffing of a hospital are some common causes of surgical errors.

As well, if the surgeon fails to recognize the limit of their capabilities or attempts to perform surgical work outside of the anatomical boundaries of the scope of the surgery, significant errors can result. In such cases, a surgeon may unintentionally damage or cut another organ not within the intended domain of the surgical procedure, which can lead to the patient developing a serious infection.

Other reasons why surgical mistakes can occur include:

• Fatigue
• Miscommunication
• Incompetence
• Taking shortcuts during a procedure
• Insufficient pre-operative planning
• Inebriation or being under the influence of a controlled substance

Examples of Surgical Medical Malpractice Errors

• Unnecessary surgery
• Anesthesia mistakes
• Abandoned instruments
• Failure to recognize post-surgical complications
• Failure to identify anatomy
• Failure to monitor blood pressure
• Failure to repair damaged vascular injuries
• Failure to stay within anatomical boundaries
• post-surgery infections
• Internal bleeding
• Retained foreign objects
• Paralysis after surgery
• Wrong patient surgery
• Wrong site surgery
• Wrong side surgery
• Organ puncture or perforation
• Bowel perforation
• Spinal cord injuries
• Failed cataract
• Failure to follow proper technique
• Failure to use surgical instruments properly
• Delayed surgery
• Improper sterilization of equipment
• Prolonged procedures
• Medication errors and overdoses

The Devastating Consequences of Surgical Errors

During or after a surgical procedure, patients can suffer injuries such as organ damage, paralysis, brain damage from lack of oxygen, chronic pain, amputation, sepsis, or internal bleeding. These injuries may result in temporary or permanent disability, or even death.

Surgical Error Lawsuits & Compensation

Through a medical malpractice claim or subsequent lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for the losses you incurred due to a surgical error. Ohio law divides these various financial losses into economic and noneconomic damages, and they include your:

• Medical costs and hospital bills
• Loss of income
• Disability or physical impairment
• Disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

An Attorney Can Help after a Surgical Mistake

Malpractice claims involving a mistake made during an operation can be legally complex with large insurance companies, medial teams, and hospitals trying to downplay or deny any wrongdoing. That’s why it is important to have an attorney experienced with dealing with the medical industry.

How to Prove Surgical Negligence?

A successful surgical malpractice lawsuit means demonstrating that the surgeon or another party related to your operation was negligent in some way. This requires meeting the following elements:

• The party had a duty to act as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances
• The other party breached this duty of care
• The other party’s breach caused your injuries
• You suffered actual injuries, for which the other party can compensate you

There are numerous ways an experienced attorney can help demonstrate that a doctor, nurse, or another medical professional breached its duty of care, including medical reports, prescription and medical records, expert testimony, and other circumstantial evidence.

At KNR, we have the knowledge regarding surgical errors and extensive experience litigating these claims. Our attorneys will investigate to confirm that a surgical mistake occurred, review the records and medical reports to assign liability, and aggressively pursue maximum compensation by building the strongest possible case.

Surgical Error Statute of Limitations

The Ohio statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is generally one year. This means a medical malpractice lawsuit may not be filed after one year has passed since the date of the procedure, or since the date the surgical error was discovered. The latter of these dates is referred to as the “cognizable event,” which can mean:

• One year from the date you last received treatment
• The date you were aware or should have been aware that medical negligence may have taken place

These deadlines should be kept in mind when considering contacting a medical malpractice attorney for the purposes of filing a claim or lawsuit.

Medical malpractice cases that are filed due to injuries caused by surgical errors can be difficult to prove. Hospitals and surgical facilities may be reluctant to reveal that an error occurred during a procedure unless the error is overwhelmingly obvious.

Contact an Experienced Ohio Surgical Error Attorney

To get the justice and compensation you deserve after a surgical error caused by negligence, you need an experienced attorney who knows how to handle these complex issues. At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we will fight for your best interests in order to secure the compensation you deserve. With offices all around Ohio, including Akron, Canton, Cincinnati Columbus, and Cleveland, we are more than prepared to handle your medical malpractice case.

Call our legal team today at 1-800-HURT-NOW to schedule a free case evaluation.