Baltimore Surgical Error Lawyer

Americans trust medical professionals to provide safe and effective care when they are hurt or sick. Unfortunately, however, medical errors continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental deaths and serious injuries across the country. When an individual requires a surgical procedure, the team handling the operation must do so while following the strictest patient safety and health regulations. The surgeon performing the operation must have a deep procedural knowledge of the situation and have the requisite experience to conduct the operation without harming the patient. Similarly, the anesthesiologist must ensure the patient is properly and safely sedated, and the support team assisting in the operation must monitor the patient vitals carefully to ensure there is minimal risk of cross-contamination. 

When these individuals fail in any of these responsibilities due to negligence, carelessness, or lack of oversight, the patient can suffer extreme harm. This negligence constitutes surgical malpractice, and individuals who experience it may incur a wide range of damages, including worsened medical conditions and mounting treatment costs. At Peter Angelos Law, we believe in holding negligent surgeons and other medical professionals accountable for the damages they cause.

What Is a Medical Malpractice Claim?

“Medical malpractice” is a legal term that refers to a medical professional’s failure to adhere to the standard of care while treating a patient. “Standard of care” refers to the acceptable forms of treatment and level of care a specific diagnosis requires. When it comes to surgical procedures, there is an accepted standard of care for every operation a surgeon performs. The surgeon must use the appropriate equipment for the procedure and follow the necessary steps to ensure the procedure is safe and accomplishes its intended purpose. Most surgeries also require some form of anesthesia, and any mistakes regarding the handling of anesthesia can be dangerous or even fatal to the patient. 

A medical malpractice claim is a type of personal injury claim that involves a patient suffering harm from their doctor, surgeon, or another medical professional. A formal doctor-patient relationship must exist between the plaintiff and defendant in a medical malpractice claim, meaning the defendant agreed to treat the plaintiff and the plaintiff agreed to provide the defendant’s treatment. When a surgical error occurs because of a medical professional’s failure to uphold the standard of care for the operation in question, this is grounds for a medical malpractice claim. 

Possible Examples of Surgical Errors 

Surgical errors can happen in many ways. Some of the most reported types of surgical errors that result in medical malpractice claims include: 

• Anesthesia errors. If the anesthesiologist administers the wrong dosage to the patient, the resulting medical consequences can be fatal. The patient may also suffer a wide range of other effects, some of which may result in permanent harm.
• Surgical instrument misuse. If the surgeon mishandles a piece of surgical equipment during a procedure, they may accidentally cause injury to the patient. In some cases, such errors may be easily and quickly corrected. In other cases, errors can be life-threatening to the patient.
• Incompetence. If a surgeon attempts a procedure without the requisite skill or experience and harms the patient in any measurable way, this is a clear example of malpractice.
• Improper operation. It is possible for a surgeon to mistakenly operate on the wrong part of the body. In rare cases, patient charts may be confused, and a patient may undergo a procedure intended for another patient. These are examples of gross negligence and would most likely constitute medical malpractice. 

These are just a few examples of the types of surgical errors that can potentially lead to a medical malpractice claim. If you believe that you or a loved one suffered any type of harm while undergoing surgery in Baltimore, Bowie, Frederick, Annapolis, or anywhere else in Maryland state-wide, it is essential to know your options for legal recourse. Our Baltimore surgical error attorney can help.

How Do I Know If I Have a Medical Malpractice Claim for Surgical Error? 

A medical malpractice claim is a form of personal injury claim. If you believe you might have grounds to file a medical malpractice claim for a recent surgical error, you must determine if your claim includes the following criteria: 

• A formal doctor-patient relationship existed between you and the medical professional in question.
• The defendant in question failed to uphold the standard of care for the operation you required.
• The defendant’s negligence directly caused measurable harm, such as increased medical expenses, extended recovery time, or an additional medical condition or disability.
• The damage you experienced directly resulted from this negligence and not some other cause. 

If your claim meets these criteria, you likely qualify to file a medical malpractice claim. An experienced Baltimore surgical error lawyer can help you determine the full scope of your claimable damages and guide you through the process of filing your medical malpractice claim.

Find Legal Counsel Now 

Time is a critical consideration for any legal matter, and surgical error claims are often complex, requiring a great deal of time, research, and evidence gathering to succeed. The Baltimore surgical error attorneys at Peter Angelos Law in Baltimore, MD have years of experience handling complex medical malpractice claims on behalf of our clients throughout Maryland. If you believe that you or a loved one suffered physical harm and economic losses due to a negligent medical professional’s surgical error, we can help with your recovery. Get the legal answers to your questions for free by contacting Peter Angelos Law today and scheduling a consultation with our team.