Surgical Errors

Unfortunately, surgical errors happen to an alarming number of patients in the U.S. These errors can lead to serious injuries that change a patient’s life and place a burden on their family. If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of a surgical error, the Maryland surgical malpractice lawyers at Burgos & Burgos, LLC can help. We fully understand the devastating impact that a surgical error can have on a victim and their family, which is why we are committed to protecting your rights and aggressively advocating for the compensation that you need for your recovery. Our medical negligence lawyers have helped many residents of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, as well as Washington, D.C. residents, resolve claims based on surgical errors, prescription errors, and other incidents of malpractice. Each member of our staff is fluent in Spanish.

Each year, more than 4,000 people who undergo surgery in the U.S. are injured by shocking preventable surgical errors that should never occur in surgery (known as “never events”) in hospitals across the country. Some examples of “never events” include:

• Operating on the wrong person;
• Operating on the wrong body part;
• Performing the wrong procedure altogether;
• Leaving objects in a patient’s body;
• Using dirty or unsterilized instruments in surgery;
• Infusing the wrong blood type or contaminated blood into a patient; or
• Using oxygen lines that contained no gas or the wrong gas.

Other types of surgical errors include nerve damage, preventable infections, anesthesia problems, and failures to monitor before, during, or after surgery. These types of errors can have devastating consequences for a patient because the patient may require further surgery to fix the original error. In the worst-case scenario, surgical errors can result in death.

If you were injured due to a surgical error, you probably can sue the at-fault party for medical negligence with the assistance of a surgical malpractice attorney in Maryland. A number of parties may be liable for an error, such as a surgeon, an anesthesiologist, or even a member of the hospital staff. Under Maryland law, medical malpractice occurs when a health care provider causes an injury or death by deviating from the standard of care that a reasonable health care provider in the same specialty would have used under the same or similar circumstances. It is important to note that not all complications that arise after a surgery result from malpractice. Some surgeries are inherently risky and may lead to a negative outcome, no matter how much care and caution the health care provider used. We will closely examine the facts of your case and determine if malpractice played a role in your injury.

If a plaintiff successfully shows negligence, they may be able to recover a variety of economic and non-economic damages. Generally, a victim of medical malpractice can obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, costs of future care, pain and suffering, disability, and any other costs or losses arising from the malpractice. The specific amount of compensation that a plaintiff will be entitled to obtain will depend on the nature and extent of the injury suffered by that patient. Damages can come in the form of a settlement or through a jury award.

Despite advances in training, tools, and procedures, surgical errors remain common. If you or someone close to you was harmed due to a surgical error, you may be entitled to compensation. At Burgos & Burgos, LLC, our medical negligence attorneys have the experience and resources to determine if a surgical error constitutes malpractice. You can rest assured that we understand this area of law and will vigorously advocate for your rights at every step of the way. We proudly serve people throughout Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, including in Gaithersburg, Germantown, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton-Glenmont, and Hyattsville, as well as in Washington, D.C. To learn more about your legal rights and options following a surgical error, a misdiagnosis, or another incident of medical malpractice, do not hesitate to call our Maryland surgical malpractice attorneys at (301) 681-1111 or contact us online.