When it is necessary for you to undergo a surgical procedure, you should not have to be concerned about whether your surgeon will do the job correctly. Surgeons are regarded as some of the most highly skilled members of the medical profession. Nevertheless, patient injuries that are attributable to errors during surgery occur with alarming frequency.
Patients who suffer any type of negative impact because of a surgeon’s error have the right to seek compensation for the medical care they need to correct the error and financial compensation for any other losses they have suffered. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is important that you seek the advice of a qualified New Haven surgical error lawyer.
At the Law Office of Carl A. Secola, Jr., LLC, our medical malpractice lawyers in New Haven provide strategic, results-oriented representation to surgical error victims across Connecticut. We have seen the errors that result in patient suffering and the negligence that leads to them.
You can rely on us to pursue every available option in an effort to see that the responsible parties are made to answer for the harm that they have caused and that you receive full and fair compensation for any losses you suffered because of it. Our New Haven surgical error attorney will fight to get you the justice you deserve.
The Impact of Surgical Errors
New Haven surgical errors refer to mistakes or negligent actions that occur during surgical procedures, resulting in harm or injury to the patient. Surgical errors can happen in various ways, such as wrong-site surgery, improper anesthesia administration, organ perforation, foreign object retention, post-operative infections, and other preventable mistakes.
These errors can have severe consequences, including physical complications, additional surgeries, prolonged recovery time, pain and suffering, and even life-threatening conditions. When surgical errors occur due to medical negligence or malpractice, victims have the right to seek compensation for their damages.
We Hold Surgeons Accountable For Substandard Care
Our New Haven personal injury lawyers have experience handling a wide variety of surgical error cases, including:
- Undiagnosed or Untreated Internal Bleeding: Undiagnosed or untreated internal bleeding occurs when medical professionals fail to recognize or address internal bleeding during or after surgery. This can lead to severe complications, such as organ damage, hemorrhage, or even death if left untreated.
- Operating on the Wrong Body Part: Operating on the wrong body part involves performing surgery on a different body part than intended. This can occur due to miscommunication, incorrect pre-operative markings, or negligence. Operating on the wrong body part can result in unnecessary surgical risks, complications, and the need for additional surgeries to correct the error.
- Retained Objects, Including Sponges, Forceps and Other Instruments: Retained objects refer to surgical tools, sponges, or other foreign objects inadvertently left inside the patient’s body after surgery. These objects can cause infections, pain, organ damage, or other complications. Surgeons and medical staff have a responsibility to account for and remove all instruments and materials used during surgery.
- Damage to Internal Organs: Damage to internal organs can occur during surgery due to errors or negligence. This can involve unintended lacerations, punctures, or tears in vital organs. Organ damage can lead to significant complications, requiring additional surgeries, prolonged hospitalization, and long-term health issues.
- Use of Inappropriate Surgical Techniques: The use of inappropriate surgical techniques refers to performing surgeries using incorrect or outdated methods. This can result in surgical complications, poor outcomes, and potential harm to the patient. Surgeons are expected to follow established best practices and standards of care to ensure patient safety and optimal surgical results.
Causes of New Haven Surgical Errors
New Haven surgical errors can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
- Communication failures: Miscommunication or inadequate communication between medical professionals can lead to misunderstandings about surgical procedures, patient information, or medication administration, increasing the risk of errors during surgery.
- Inadequate preoperative planning: Insufficient preoperative planning, including failure to review patient medical history, inadequate assessment of surgical risks, or incomplete surgical site marking, can contribute to surgical errors.
- Fatigue and burnout: Surgeons and medical staff who are fatigued or experiencing burnout may be more prone to errors during surgery. Long working hours, high patient loads, and a demanding healthcare environment can increase the risk of mistakes.
- Lack of training and experience: Surgeons who lack sufficient training, experience, or expertise in a specific surgical procedure may be more likely to make errors during the operation.
- Medication errors: Mistakes in medication administration, such as incorrect dosages or administering the wrong medication, can lead to adverse reactions or complications during surgery.
- Equipment or technology malfunctions: Surgical errors can occur when equipment or technology used during the procedure malfunctions or fails to function properly. This includes issues with surgical tools, monitoring devices, or anesthesia equipment, as stated from our defective medical device lawyers in New Haven.
- Poor teamwork and coordination: Ineffective teamwork and coordination among surgical team members, including surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals, can contribute to errors and miscommunication during surgery.
Legal Considerations in New Haven Surgical Error Claims
New Haven has laws in place to protect patients from surgical errors and hold medical professionals accountable for their actions. These laws generally fall under medical malpractice statutes, which allow individuals who have suffered harm due to surgical errors to seek legal recourse. Some key aspects include:
- Standard of care: Healthcare providers in New Haven are held to a standard of care, which means they must adhere to the level of skill and competence that is expected of a reasonably prudent healthcare professional in the same field and under similar circumstances. If a surgeon’s actions or omissions deviate from this standard and lead to harm, it may be considered medical malpractice.
- Statute of limitations: There is a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, within which a surgical error claim must be filed. In New Haven, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice cases is generally two years from the date the injury was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. However, there are exceptions and specific circumstances that can affect the time limits.
- Expert testimony: In surgical error cases, expert testimony is often necessary to establish the standard of care and prove that the surgeon’s actions or omissions breached that standard, resulting in harm. The expert witness is typically a qualified medical professional who can provide their opinion on the surgical error and its impact on the patient.
- Damages: If a patient can prove that a surgical error occurred and caused them harm, they may be entitled to various types of damages. These can include compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other economic and non-economic losses resulting from the surgical error.
Why you should choose our New Haven Surgical Error Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been a victim of surgical error in New Haven, it is crucial to seek legal representation from a qualified New Haven surgical error attorney. At the Law Office of Carl A. Secola, Jr., LLC, our experienced team is dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of individuals who have suffered harm due to surgical negligence.
We understand the complexities of medical malpractice laws in Connecticut and have a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes for our clients. Our compassionate and knowledgeable New Haven surgical error attorneys will diligently investigate your case, consult with medical experts, and pursue the full compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. We represent clients throughout the New Haven area and across Connecticut.
If you or a loved one is suffering because of a surgeon’s error, contact our office to discuss your rights and legal options. You can reach us by phone at 203-891-5265 or by getting in touch with us to schedule a free initial consultation.