We Are Experienced Surgical Complication Attorneys
- Over 40 Years of Experience
- More Than $3 Billion Secured for Our Clients
- Thousands of Lives Changed
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If doctors, anesthesiologists, and nurses don’t take the necessary precautions, abide by surgery safety protocols, and properly manage post-op care, patients could experience life-threatening complications. Although many hospital care teams do their best to avoid negative outcomes, unfortunately, preventable surgical complications occur too often. As a result, patients may find themselves in a position where filing a medical malpractice lawsuit is their only way to respond to the injuries caused by those complications.
If you have been injured as a result of medical error or negligence, you may be compensated—not just for your injury and the medical bills you’ve acquired as a result, but also for the non-economic damages resulting from your injury, including past and future medical expenses, loss of income, and the emotional distress you’ve suffered. A medical malpractice attorney like those at Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC, is an advocate who fights for the justice and compensation you deserve when you need it most. Read on for more information about surgical errors and medical malpractice, and contact us today for a no-obligation, free consultation if you have suffered severe injuries as a result of avoidable surgical complications.
What Is a Surgical Complication?
Generally, surgical complications are unwanted outcomes that occur as a result of improper care or procedures by the patient’s surgical care team. Surgical complications can be triggered at any point in the surgical process, and they can result in permanent consequences such as disability, dismemberment, and even death.
One study found that nearly half of surgical complications were the result of errors in care, including 128 deaths. Another study that looked at complication rates of over 16,019 surgeons performing low-risk, elective surgeries at over 3,575 hospitals across the United States found that, overall, complication rates may be largely underreported and underestimated.
Patients who have experienced severe injury due to a surgical complication are not only left with the physical and emotional effects of their resulting injuries but are also faced with medical expenses and lost wages. Most data on complication rates does not even include the psychological impact of readmission to the hospital. In many ways, experiencing a surgical complication can mean that a patient’s life will never be the same again.
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What Are the Most Common Types of Surgical Complications?
There are many types of errors that occur before, during, or after surgery that can leave patients struggling. Some of the most common types of surgical complications include:
- Post-op infection: infection, immune system reactions, sepsis, even death
- Operating on the wrong patient: unnecessary procedure or operation
- Negative reaction to anesthesia: allergic reactions, too much anesthesia, too little anesthesia, etc.
- Surgical instruments left in the body: tools, sponges, gauze, etc. left in body cavity, causing health issues or infection
- Internal damage: organ damage such as punctures and cuts or nerve damage
- Operating on the wrong site: amputation of the wrong limb, operation on the wrong organ, etc.
What Causes Surgical Complications?
Proving that negligence caused a surgical complication requires extensive investigation. Many times, complications result from surgical errors that occur on in the operating theater:
- Improper preparation for the surgery, including errors leading to wrong site surgery
- Failure to get complete informed consent from the patient
- Incapable or incompetent surgeon performing surgery not within their scope of practice
- Failure to communicate among surgical staff
- Miscommunication about medication dosage
- Inadequate sterilization of facilities
- Inadequate rest on the part of the surgical staff
- Failure of surgeon to conduct proper post-op care
Many people may believe that only one medical professional is responsible for their care at a given time, but the truth is that medical care is often a team effort—often resting on the foundation of the healthcare system or facility itself. Still, when it comes to surgery, surgeons are responsible for patient care every step of the way, from confirming the original diagnosis to helping the patient transition to long-term follow-up care in the event that any complications do arise.
What Impact on Life Can Surgical Complications Have?
Any surgical complication can cause serious health issues for patients. Whether the patient experiences a short-term condition such as an allergic reaction or long-term conditions such as an amputation, the ways in which surgical complications can impact the quality of life are immense. The mental, physical, and financial costs associated with recovering from and dealing with surgical complications can take a serious toll on patients, including delays in physical healing.
Luckily, there are legal protections in place that allow patients to file lawsuits in relation to surgical negligence. Medical malpractice lawsuits related to surgical complications aim to prove that other reasonably skilled professionals would not have made the same mistake and that the healthcare provider in question failed to establish the right level of care. JJS has obtained multimillion dollar recoveries on behalf of individuals who have suffered from surgical errors.
- $13 million for poor post-operative care: Settlement received in a case against a U.S. government-employed healthcare provider whose poor post-operative care resulted in brain damage and cerebral palsy.
- $33.5 million for delayed C-section: Tennessee jury awarded this record-breaking verdict after finding that delays in performing an urgently needed cesarean section resulted in a baby developing severe brain damage and cerebral palsy.
These verdicts and settlements have helped individuals and their families pay for medical bills, compensate them for their pain and suffering, and supplement their lost earnings.
How Do You Prove Liability in a Surgical Complication Lawsuit?
Essentially, in a surgical complication lawsuit, the patient’s legal team needs to prove that their client’s condition was a direct result of their healthcare team’s negligence. Lawsuits related to surgical complications are complex and lengthy, so it’s in the best interest of patients to have experienced legal representation to help them navigate the process.
Janet, Janet & Suggs, LLC, represents medical malpractice cases with experienced and tenacious teams that provide:
- Legal knowledge. Regardless of how clear-cut a case may seem to the patient, many different factors can make surgical complication cases more complex than they appear. Experienced medical malpractice attorneys know how to litigate successfully during all stages of your case in order to fight for fair compensation.
- Medical knowledge. Surgical complication cases are complex and specific, so in order to be successful, your attorney should have extensive medical malpractice law experience. Cases typically include testimony and evidence from medical experts, meaning your lawyer will need to be familiar with all that entails. Proving a healthcare professional was negligent is crucial for compensation, which is why these cases need an experienced trial attorney from a law firm that specifically focuses on medical malpractice.
If you have experienced surgical complications as a result of medical malpractice, you deserve to be compensated for your injury, the resulting medical bills, and your decreased quality of life. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will advocate for the compensation you deserve when you need it most.
Our Dedicated Team of Surgical Malpractice Professionals
The legal and medical team at JJS has over 40 years of experience representing those who have been harmed because of a medical professional’s negligence. We have recovered hundreds of millions on behalf of victims of birth injuries, including record-breaking verdicts and settlements in many states.
Howard Janet has uncovered medical mistakes that other lawyers have missed and represented clients throughout much of the country, recovering record-breaking results. He has authored multiple books, including Navigating a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit, Representing Plaintiffs in Medical Malpractice Cases as lead author and Patients’ Rights and Doctors’ Wrongs—Secrets to a Safer Pregnancy and Childbirth, which he co-authored with Dr. Giles Manley.
Ken Suggs served as president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now known as the American Association for Justice), the leading national plaintiff’s bar association, and has been a relentless advocate for his clients for over 40 years.
Dr. Giles Manley is a board-certified physician who practiced medicine for 20 years before becoming a medical malpractice attorney. He has won a number of seven-figure verdicts on behalf of his clients, combining his medical knowledge and legal experience to secure monumental victories for his clients.
Gerald Jowers represents patients who have been harmed by medical malpractice, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, recovering extraordinary results for clients and their families at the settlement table and in the courtroom.
Locations We Serve
At Janet, Janet & Suggs, we have a team of medical malpractice lawyers that serves clients throughout Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. We have also been granted permission to practice in many more states with court approval.
Why Choose Janet, Janet & Suggs for Your Surgical Complication Medical Malpractice Case?
For over 40 years, Janet, Janet & Suggs has been helping patients with their medical malpractice lawsuits, including those related to surgical complications. Our legal/medical team is experienced in helping clients navigate the legal process with expert witnesses and educated attorneys and is nationally recognized for our track record of successful verdicts.
We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, which means we don’t collect payment from you unless your case is won. We are committed to helping clients get justice and fair compensation and to fighting for patients who have experienced a severe injury from surgical implications. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn about your legal rights.
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