Surgical Errors Lawyer

surgical errors

Each year, thousands of mistakes are made in surgeries, leading to serious complications and a risk of death. If you or a loved one is suffering as a result of negligence on the part of a surgeon or other medical professional, our attorneys at Douglas & London in New York, NY, can file a surgical errors lawsuit to help you recover compensation for medical bills, pain, suffering, and other losses. Surgical errors can cause both physical and emotional trauma for you and your family. We can ensure that the surgeon responsible for your injuries is held accountable and that you receive fair and just compensation. In fact, we have helped victims of medical malpractice collect millions in restitution. Call (212) 566-7500 or contact us online to schedule a complimentary case review.

“We have helped victims of medical malpractice collect millions in restitution.”

Types of Surgical Errors

The potential for human error is high in an operating room. All surgical errors are preventable and are the result of a surgeon’s negligence. There are a number of potential errors a surgeon can commit during surgery. Each can result in undue hardship for the patient and their loved ones:

  • Failure to obtain informed consent: Informed consent means that the patient or the parents or legal guardians of the patient were made aware of the risks associated with the surgery. Typically, this involves a form stating that the appropriate party was made aware of these risks and gave the surgeon permission to proceed. If the surgeon fails to obtain this consent and something goes wrong, you may have a medical malpractice case.
  • Unnecessary surgeries: Performing a surgery that is not deemed medically necessary could be considered a surgical error.
  • Performing the wrong surgery: If the surgeon performs a surgery other than the one the patient was supposed to undergo, this can be considered a surgical error.
  • Operating on the wrong side or part of the body: At best, this can result in unnecessary incisions. In the worst cases, it can result in the unnecessary removal of an organ or another part of the body.
  • Improper incisions: If a surgeon makes an incision in the wrong place, or makes an incision that is too large or too small, this can cause complications and increase the risk for infection.
  • Damage to nerves or organs: A careless, reckless, or negligent surgeon can cause serious, life-threatening damage to nearby organs or nerves during surgery. Nerve damage can result in muscle weakness or paralysis in that part of the body. Organ damage can result in excessive bleeding and is likely to require additional surgery.
  • Failure to remove surgical instruments: Some surgeries require the placement of surgical instruments or tools in the body to help with the completion of the procedure. In some cases, a negligent surgeon will leave one or more instruments behind, which can cause complications and often requires surgery to remove.

Potential Causes of Surgical Errors

Surgical errors happen for a wide range of reasons. In every case, the cause of the surgical error is avoidable. Some common causes of surgical errors include:

  • The surgeon’s lack of proper training or experience.
  • Lack of proper preparation for the surgery, either by the surgeon or the nurses and assistants.
  • Skipping critical steps during a surgery.
  • Lack of communication by any medical professional involved. Lack of communication, or poor communication, can result in operations on the wrong body part, or even the wrong patient.
  • Fatigue due to long shifts without proper rest.
  • Drug or alcohol use on the part of the surgeon.
  • General neglect and carelessness, which can lead to improper sterilization of surgical instruments or leaving a surgical instrument in a patient’s body.

Working with a Medical Malpractice Attorney

It is critical to work with an attorney who frequently handles medical malpractice cases. At Douglas & London, our attorneys can aggressively pursue your medical malpractice lawsuit to ensure the surgeon and other responsible parties are held accountable. We will also seek compensation for:

  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Compromised quality of life
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Wrongful death

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury at the hands of a negligent surgeon, contact our practice today or call (212) 566-7500 to schedule a free consultation. We have the resources to investigate your case and determine if negligence on the part of a medical professional resulted in your losses.