Baltimore Surgical Error Attorney

Injured During Surgery Due to Malpractice?

Some of the most damaging medical malpractice incidents occur when a surgeon makes a grievous mistake. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or death due to a surgical mistake, a Baltimore surgical error attorney from Brown & Barron can help you learn about your legal right to pursue compensation. 

We will seek every last penny you deserve to help pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Brown & Barron Can Help You Seek Compensation

At Brown & Barron, we work tirelessly to help our clients receive fair compensation after being injured. Our attorneys are committed to every case and every client. Each case deserves personalized attention. 

The attorneys at our firm have over 137 years of combined experience. If you choose our firm, you can expect: 

• A free consultation, during which we will review your case and answer your questions. We are available 24/7 for a consultation.
• We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you do not pay us unless we successfully recover compensation for you.
• Our attorneys will work aggressively to reach a fair settlement agreement. If we cannot reach a settlement, we are prepared to fight for you in court.

We have successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients in past settlements and verdicts. A surgical error can cause your life to change drastically, and we want to hold the responsible party accountable. 

Get in touch with a surgical mistake lawyer in Baltimore by calling (410) 698-1717 for a free case evaluation.

The Legal Process for Seeking Compensation

Dealing with the aftermath of a surgical error can be overwhelming and confusing. At Brown & Barron, LLC, our Baltimore surgical malpractice attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process and help you seek the compensation you deserve.

When filing a surgical error lawsuit, it's important to understand the steps involved:

• Consultation: Schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss your case. We'll listen to your story, gather relevant information, and assess the strength of your claim.
• Investigation: Our attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation to gather evidence, including medical records, expert opinions, and witness testimonies, to build a strong case on your behalf.
• Negotiation: We will engage in negotiations with the responsible parties and their insurance companies to seek a fair settlement that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
• Litigation: If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to court. Our skilled trial attorneys will present your case before a judge and jury and fight tirelessly for your rights.
• Resolution: Once a settlement or verdict is reached, we will help you navigate the process of receiving your compensation and ensure that your rights are protected throughout.

By choosing Brown & Barron, LLC as your legal champions, you can rest assured that you have a dedicated team on your side, fighting for justice and holding those responsible for your surgical error accountable.

Different Types of Surgical Errors

Every surgery requires the surgeon’s complete attention and the manipulation of delicate instruments with the utmost precision. If a surgeon is inexperienced or distracted, uses the wrong medical tools, or otherwise fails to follow accepted medical standards, a surgical error is likely. 

As a patient in surgery is effectively a nonparticipant in the procedure, no liability for a surgical error should be placed on them.

Surgical errors may involve:

• Operating on the wrong body part: Surgeries conducted on the wrong body part of the patient are upsettingly common. You might have noticed that surgery patients are often marked with large black Xs shortly before surgery. This reminds surgical team what body part requires operation, which suggests they may easily forget otherwise.
• Patient mix-ups: Along the same lines as operating on the wrong body part is operating on the wrong patient. Mixing up patient files in a hectic situation could lead to the incorrect patient being rolled into the operating theater. If the patient is unconscious due to sedatives or a health condition, they will have no way to protest the situation until it is too late.
• Performing an incorrect surgery: A surgeon might also complete an incorrect or inefficient surgical procedure due to a doctor’s misdiagnosis. The same problem can result if a surgeon needs to make an on-the-spot decision but does not have enough medical training or experience to make such an important call correctly.
• Leaving a foreign object inside the body: Perhaps the most common surgical error is leaving a foreign object inside the patient’s body before suturing them. Scalpels, gauze, clamps, and so on are small, and a distracted surgeon may not notice them. The result is often extreme pain and a life-threatening infection developing hours or days after the surgery.
• Anesthesia errors: When a surgical team does not accurately examine a patient’s height, weight, medical history, and overall health, they can miscalculate the appropriate amount of anesthesia to administer before surgery. Risks of anesthesia errors include the patient not falling asleep fully, waking up mid-surgery, or even dying from an anesthesia overdose.

Possible Causes of Surgical Errors

There are many reasons why surgical errors occur. Although, in most cases, they are related to preventable human errors. 

Possible causes of surgical errors include: 

• Incompetence: The surgeon has inadequate training to perform the type of surgery being done.
• Inadequate planning: Surgeries require proper planning before they begin. The surgical team needs to have all required instruments sterilized and in working order before the procedure begins, and they need to meet to discuss each step of the procedure. 
• Fatigue: Doctors and surgeons commonly work long hours, causing them to work while fatigued. Being overly tired can result in serious surgical errors.
• Under the influence: If the surgeon or other surgical staff members are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are more likely to make significant surgical errors. 
• Unsterilized conditions: Operating rooms are meant to be completely sanitary. All surgical team members must perform proper handwashing techniques to ensure safety. The equipment must also be sterilized using proper procedures. If this is not done, the patient can sustain infections.

How Common Are Surgical Errors?

Surgical errors, or mistakes made during surgery, are a concerning issue in the United States. Although these instances are rare, even one surgical error is one too many. 

According to a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine, medical errors, including surgical errors, are now the third leading cause of death in the United States. This is a startling statistic that highlights the importance of healthcare professionals taking the necessary precautions to prevent surgical malpractice.

Prevention measures can include communication, double-checking equipment, and ensuring that all procedures are thoroughly explained to the patient. It is essential for patients to trust that their healthcare providers are taking these necessary precautions to ensure their safety.

Long-Term Consequences of Surgical Errors

The consequences of a surgical error can often be severe. You could suffer the ramifications of these errors for the rest of your life. If you have been injured, our Baltimore surgical error attorneys will work tirelessly to hold the medical professionals who caused this error accountable. 

Long-term consequences of surgical errors can include:

• Loss of a limb or paralysis
• Infections
• Brain damage
• Nerve damage
• Scarring
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Organ damage
• Death

Many surgical errors require the patient to undergo extensive treatment to correct the issue. The patient may need to undergo additional surgeries, which will increase their risk of future complications.

How Much Is My Case Worth?

The value of a surgical error lawsuit can be influenced by a variety of factors. 

One of the primary factors to consider is the extent of the injuries sustained by the patient. For example, a patient who has suffered serious or permanent harm as a result of a surgical mistake is likely to receive a higher settlement than a patient with minor injuries.

Other factors that may impact the value of a surgical error case include the cost of the victim's medical treatment and rehabilitation, lost wages and earning capacity, and pain and suffering endured by the plaintiff. 

Contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff and the defendant's insurance coverage can also play a role in determining the final value of a surgical error lawsuit. It is important to consult with an attorney who can assess your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact Brown & Barron online today to schedule a free case review with a surgical errors attorney in Baltimore.

When Is a Lawsuit Necessary?

Surgical errors often result in long-term medical problems for patients. An example of this may include a doctor leaving an object inside a patient. 

This can create internal organ damage or infection, leading to additional surgery and unexpected medical bills for the patient. Such a terrible incident proves that victims of surgical errors often endure long-term financial hardships from the additional cost of medical care, home care, lost income, physical therapy, and more.

A lawsuit may be the only way for a medical malpractice victim to recover the compensation they need to pay for sudden expenses brought on by a medical practitioner’s negligence. 

Surgical errors lead to many medical malpractice lawsuits because they happen so often. Doctors must accept accountability when they make mistakes that cause significant harm to a patient. There must be a standard by which they should abide when performing their duties.

Your Legal Champions When Times Get Tough

To receive fair compensation after being hurt by a surgical error, you will need to file a medical malpractice claim or lawsuit against the hospital group or practitioner who made the error. 

Unfortunately, you will likely be placed in a legal arena against a team of defense attorneys retained by a multinational insurance group representing the defendant. Without the proper preparation, the odds will be heavily stacked against you.

Our attorneys have handled and been successful in many medical malpractice cases stemming from a surgical error. We are familiar with the legal complexities that may arise. 

Contact us today for a free consultation. We will review your case and explain how we can help you seek the compensation you deserve.