Personal Injury Lawyer
Surgeries are used to treat a wide variety of medical problems these days. Patients expect to come out of the surgery feeling better, but unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes mistakes are made during the surgical process that can severely harm the patient. Surgical mistakes are one of the most common causes of medical malpractice lawsuits in the United States. The medical malpractice lawyers at [law firm name] share some common reasons why surgical errors occur.
Poor Preparation
Whether it’s a minor or major surgery, it’s important for a surgeon to spend a sufficient amount of time preparing for the procedure. He or she should review the patient’s medical records and understand all the details involved in the surgery. If the surgeon fails to do this, mistakes can happen. For example, if the surgeon doesn’t take the time to review the patient’s records and it turns out the patient has an allergy to the type of anesthesia used, he or she can be sued for malpractice.
Lack of Communication
It’s important for the entire surgical team to maintain constant communication with one another. If there is a lack of communication, mistakes are more likely to occur. For instance, the surgical team may use the wrong equipment or operate on the wrong body part.
Negligence
Surgical errors can also happen out of pure neglect. Taking shortcuts and not making sure the surgical tools are sterilized are types of neglect that can result in the patient suffering harm.
Incompetence
Sometimes surgical mistakes can occur because of incompetence. If the surgeon hasn’t had the experience of performing a certain type of surgery, he or she could make mistakes.
Fatigue
Surgeons often work long hours, especially in emergency room settings. After a while, those long hours can take a toll on the surgeons and cause fatigue. Many of these surgeons just work through their fatigue. Unfortunately, being overly exhausted can make it more difficult to focus and remembers certain details. Surgeons are much more likely to make serious errors if they’re fatigued.
Consulting With a Medical Malpractice Lawyer
If you believe you’re the victim of medical malpractice, it’s important to speak to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer about your case as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation. A medical malpractice lawyer can review the details of your case an advise you the best way to move forward. He or she can help you gather evidence, identify expert witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies and protect your legal rights.
During your first consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer, remember to bring any documents pertaining to your case, such as your medical records. The more information your lawyer has to go on, the more productive your consultation will be.
Source: Personal Injury Lawyer Wytheville, VA, The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt