It can be very difficult for patients to understand whether an injury they received during surgery was normal or whether it was the result of a surgical error. Furthermore, family members of patients who pass away during a surgical procedure might be unable to get all of the information they need after a surgical mistake, especially if they cannot get a second opinion on what happened.
If you suspect that you or a loved one was the victim of surgical errors during a medical procedure, contact The Queenan Law Firm’s Fort Worth surgical error injury and death lawyers today. Our attorneys can go over the facts of your case in a free legal consultation and help you set up second opinions or seek autopsies and medical records to help determine whether the injuries or death resulted from surgical errors. If they did, we can fight to get you the compensation you deserve. For a free legal consultation, call us today at (817) 476-1797.
How to Tell if a Surgery in Fort Worth Involved Surgical Errors or Mere Complications
One of the biggest issues in any medical malpractice case is going to be the issue of whether an injury was caused by a mistake or problem with the care or whether the injury was a normal complication. Doctors and surgeons understand the risks of any surgical procedure, and they must inform patients of these potential risks before performing the surgery. This informed consent helps patients understand that certain risks and bad outcomes might be possible even with expert care, but it can be difficult for non-experts to determine where the line is between acceptable complications and actual errors.
In many cases, getting a second opinion will be a necessary step in determining whether your injuries were caused by surgical errors or complications. Another doctor can act as a medical expert, analyze what happened to you, look over your case file, and determine whether the doctor who performed your surgery used the proper care and skill or whether their actions fell below the “standard of care.” Many cases involving deadly surgical errors can also be caught by performing an autopsy or a thorough review of the deceased’s medical records.
A surgical error injury and death lawyer can also subpoena evidence and testimony from the surgeon and medical team that performed the surgery in the first place. Our attorneys can request medical records and notes related to your surgery, and we can schedule depositions with the medical doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel involved in your treatment. This can help us get information about whether they performed the procedure correctly, what precautions were or were not taken, what mistakes might have been covered up, and what other facts might be available to help you seek compensation for surgical errors.
Damages for Surgical Errors Leading to Injury or Death in Fort Worth
If you or a loved one was the victim of surgical errors, you could be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctors, medical team, and hospitals responsible for your injuries. The damages you can claim may differ depending on whether the injuries happened to you or whether they caused the death of a loved one.
Surgical Error Injury Damages
If you were hurt by a doctor’s surgical errors or mistakes, then you could be entitled to claim damages for any additional care you need to correct the mistakes, other related medical bills, lost wages the injuries caused you, and pain and suffering damages. These damages can often be quite expensive, especially when it comes to pain and suffering damages.
Surgical Error Death Damages
If a loved one was killed by a doctor’s surgical errors or mistakes, you could be entitled to damages on their behalf in addition to damages you and your family suffered directly. The surviving spouse, children, or parents of a deceased surgical error victim could be entitled to sue for any damages the deceased would have been able to claim on their own had they survived the injuries, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The family of the deceased can also claim damages they now face because of the death, such as funeral and burial costs, ongoing lost wages, lost companionship, and more. Talk to a lawyer about these damages.
Discovering Surgical Errors in Fort Worth Injury Cases
In many cases, it can be difficult to identify surgical errors in the first place. Patients are not usually medical professionals themselves, and they may be unable to tell if a symptom or discomfort after a surgical procedure is normal. In some cases, the doctor might even affirmatively tell them that the pain is expected or normal, even if the doctor knows that is not true. This can be considered “fraudulent concealment” and often makes it harder to discover that something is wrong.
Many people simply have no way of discovering surgical mistakes until they receive another surgery or see another doctor for a second opinion. In those cases, a doctor might discover excess scar tissue, nerve damage, or even surgical tools left behind in the patient’s body that explain the pain and discomfort. If you think you might have been the victim of surgical errors and not just mere complications, seek a second opinion and talk to our Fort Worth surgical error injury and death attorneys right away.
Call Our Fort Worth Surgical Error Injury and Death Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The Queenan Law Firm’s Fort Worth surgical error injury and death lawyers represent injury victims and their families in surgical error cases, fighting against doctors and hospitals to get these victims compensation for their injuries. If you suspect that surgical site pain or discomfort was actually caused by surgical errors or you suspect that your loved one’s death might have been caused by mistakes in the operating room, contact our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers right away. Our phone number is (817) 476-1797.