Charlottesville Wrong-Site Surgery Attorney
Being scheduled for surgery can be unnerving, but also give a feeling of hope and relief – if you receive surgery for the medical condition from which you’re suffering, perhaps you’ll heal and be well. Of course, when someone is scheduled for surgery, they never expect that their surgeon will make a grave error. One such type of error is that of performing surgery on the wrong site. If you have been the victim of a wrong-site surgery, it’s likely that you have a medical malpractice claim for damages. At the law offices of MichieHamlett, our Charlottesville wrong-site surgery attorneys will advocate for your right to compensation. Call our law firm today for the legal support you need.
What Is a Wrong-Site Surgery?
A wrong-site surgery is exactly what it sounds like, as shocking as that may be: a surgery is performed on the wrong location. This might mean:
- The surgery is performed on the wrong patient;
- The surgery is performed on the wrong side or part of the body;
- The surgery is performed on the wrong organ; or
- The surgery is performed on the wrong limb/extremity.
Consequences of a Wrong-Site Surgery
A wrong-site surgery can have tragic consequences. Depending on the type of wrong-site surgery performed, consequences might include the removal of an essential organ, leading to severe complications (i.e. kidney failure); the amputation of the wrong limb; scarring and disfigurement on the wrong part of the body; unnecessary pain, suffering, medical expenses, recovery, etc.; and a worsening or exacerbation of the original condition for which the patient sought surgery.
Causes of Wrong-Site Surgery
Wrong-site surgery is avoidable and is a “never event” that should never happen. When wrong-site surgery does occur, medical malpractice is usually to blame. Medical malpractice refers to a breach in the medical standard of care owed to a patient – the “degree of skill and diligence practiced by a reasonably prudent practitioner in the field of practice.” Examples of medical malpractice that can lead to wrong-site surgeries include:
- Mixing up patients’ charts;
- Failing to do a pre- and post-op check;
- Failing to confirm the correct site with the patient prior to surgery;
- Failing to properly read a patient’s chart;
- Surgeon/medical staff fatigue, distraction, or understaffing; and
- Communication errors between hospital staff and professionals.
Recovering Compensation for a Wrong-Site Surgery
If you have been the victim of a wrong-site surgery, you have likely incurred damages–both economic and noneconomic–that you otherwise would not have suffered. By filing a medical malpractice claim, you can hold the responsible physician responsible, raise awareness about medical malpractice and hopefully help to deter the same problem from happening again in the future, and seek compensation for the full value of your losses.
At the law offices of MichieHamlett, our Charlottesville wrong-site surgery attorneys want to help. We will investigate your case, work with medical experts to build your claim, prove the elements of malpractice, issue a demand letter, negotiate your settlement, and more. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we don’t get paid if you don’t. You can schedule a free consultation by calling our law office directly today.
