During
the preoperative and postoperative periods (before and after
surgery), as well as during the actual performance of a
surgical procedure, a variety of “mishaps” or
“accidents” can occur. These surgical mishaps
are not necessarily secondary to medical negligence, and
thankfully, most do not result in any permanent injury to
the patient. A poor result after surgery does not necessarily
mean that there was negligence. However, when healthcare
providers render care which deviates from the accepted standards
of medical or surgical practice, that often constitutes
medical negligence or malpractice. If such malpractice causes
an injury, patients may be able to commence litigation to
recover damages for their losses.
Some
examples of surgically related accidents or mishaps which
may be caused by medical negligence are:
 |
Retained
surgical instruments or supplies (e.g., a surgical sponge
left in the patient) |
 |
Improperly placed sutures or surgical hardware |
 |
Perforation
or trauma to organs not being operated upon |
 |
Failure
to diagnose and treat postoperative infections and other
conditions |
 |
Negligence
in preoperative testing and operative clearance |
 |
Lack
of informed consent |
 |
The
performance of contraindicated and/or unnecessary surgical
procedures |
 |
Malpositioning
on the operating room table or chair |
 |
Negligence
in the administration of anesthesia and post anesthesia
care |
 |
Negligence
in monitoring a patient intraoperatively and postoperatively |
Blume
Goldfaden attorneys and medical staff have the expertise
to identify if a surgical accident or mishap constitutes
negligence. We will evaluate your potential claim by reviewing
your medical records and diagnostic studies (x-rays, MRIs,
CT Scans, etc.) free of cost.