When you enter the hospital for routine surgery, you expect that the doctor and medical staff will do everything necessary to keep you from harm. You also trust that your original medical issue will be correctly resolved. That wasn’t the case for one woman who recently filed a lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, the woman suffered serious and permanent injuries from skin burns that occurred while she was undergoing an abdominal hysterectomy. The medical malpractice lawsuit claims the doctor is responsible for failing to provide proper medical care which caused her injuries.
Surgical Mistakes
Surgical mistakes happen more often than most people realize. Many times, the mistakes are minor and do not negatively impact the health of the patient. But sometimes the injuries are much more serious. When a mistake causes a severe injury, the doctor may be negligent and could be responsible for medical malpractice. The woman states that the doctor in this case did not properly evaluate her medical condition and failed to perform the operation correctly.
Botched Hysterectomy Procedure
The woman in this case required a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy is a procedure that is done to partially or completely remove a woman’s reproductive organs, including the uterus. It is often done in response to pain caused by fibroids, or for other medical reasons such as cancer. A total hysterectomy removes the entire uterus, cervix, and ovaries. In this case, the lawsuit states that the procedure was an abdominal hysterectomy. This is open surgery where an incision is made through which to make the removal. Most hysterectomies are completed using this procedure.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice happens when a doctor is careless or makes a mistake that causes serious harm to a patient. It may be caused by performing something incorrectly or by failing to do something that should have been done. Doctors are required and expected to know more about medical diagnosis and treatment than the general public. They are thus held to high standards of care, ensuring that patients are not harmed by anything they do. Doctors know that if a mistake is made, the result could be serious injury or death.
Serious and Permanent Harm
The woman who filed this lawsuit has suffered a great deal of pain and injury due to the doctor’s mistake. She has sustained undisclosed permanent physical injuries because of malpractice. Her condition was not properly evaluated, which apparently caused the injuries to worsen. When a problem is encountered, fast emergency treatment can often mitigate some of the physical damage. That was not the case in this situation. The woman was not properly treated and as a result, the injuries were permanent. The lawsuit names the doctor as well as Reproductive Health Associates, SC. The woman is seeking damages of more than $50,000.
When You Have Been Harmed
It is important to know what to do if you have been harmed by a doctor’s mistake. You should speak with an attorney to learn whether you have a legal case. You could be entitled to collect damages that include money for pain and suffering, medical costs, future medical expenses and other things. Contact the skilled attorneys at Levin & Perconti to schedule an initial consultation.
