Patients trust their doctor or surgeon with their lives and expect them to perform the procedure with utmost care. Like other invasive procedures, orthopedic surgeries also present inherent risks. Many of these risks can be avoided if the orthopedic surgeon lives up to the standard of care that is expected from them. In this post, Chicago orthopedic malpractice lawyer will discuss what orthopedic malpractice is all about.
Orthopedic Surgery Malpractice Explained
Orthopedic surgery involves various invasive procedures that require utmost care from the surgeon and staff. Orthopedic surgeons are expected to meet standards of care and act as any other reasonable surgeon would act in a similar situation. Any deviation from the standards can amount to medical malpractice and the aggrieved patient will have the right to legal recourse.
Some factors that may indicate negligence on part of the orthopedic surgeon include:
- Failure to diagnose fractures
- Improper treatment of fractures
- Failure to diagnose nerve impingement
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Delay in diagnosis of a condition
- Improper placement of orthopedic hardware when performing a surgery to repair fractures
- Misinterpretation of imaging tests such as CT scans, MRIs and X-rays
- Improperly setting a broken bone
- Improper placement of a replacement bone
- Failure to recognize post-surgical complications
- Leaving surgical instruments, towels or sponges inside the patient
- Applying a cast too tightly.
Negligence by an orthopedic surgeon can lead to nerve damage, fatal blood loss, hip or other joint problems, spine and back damage, infection or sepsis, blood vessel damage, decreased mobility or motor function loss in extremities. Incorrect or failed orthopedic surgeries and other medical mistakes can create further complications, and even re-surgeries may not be viable or effective. This can leave the victim of orthopedic surgery malpractice disabled for the lifetime.
Seeking legal help for orthopedic surgery malpractice
Orthopedic surgery malpractice can have a serious outcome, and the patient may be left struggling with serious complications that require further treatment. In some cases, the damage may be severe and permanent.
If you have had an orthopedic surgery, and you think that your surgeon acted negligently, and it resulted in an injury, you may have legal recourse. If you can prove that the duty was breached, you may be able to recover compensation, including, but not limited to:
- Current and future medical expenses;
- Current and future lost wages;
- Therapy costs;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of consortium.
However, it is important to note that medical malpractice lawsuits are way too complicated compared to the normal personal injury cases. They require a lot of time, medical and legal knowledge, and attention to detail. So, it is important that you consult with an experienced and qualified Chicago medical malpractice lawyer, who can fight for your rights. The lawyer will collect evidence such as medical reports and photographic evidence, review surgical plans, take witness statements, and consult medical experts to find out whether or not the orthopedic surgeon breached the duty of care.
