Baltimore, MD Surgery Malpractice Attorneys

Lawyers for Surgical Errors and Malpractice in Baltimore, Maryland

Unfortunately, surgical errors are more common than most people would like to believe or than hospitals would like to admit. Without question, all surgeries carry with them risks of complications such as infection, bleeding, wound healing complications, etc. However, each year, there are thousands of documented, preventable surgical errors related to medical malpractice. These errors can be broken down generally into three phases related to the surgical procedure: pre–operative, operative, and post–operative.

Pre–Operative Surgical Errors

Pre–operative surgical errors include a failure on the part of the physician to evaluate a patient's then-current health and medical history, failure to mark or identify the appropriate surgical location, failure to appreciate a patient's current use of medications, or failure to properly interpret available radiographic or pathological specimens. Negligence in this arena can lead to wrong-site surgeries, failure to remove the entirety of a body part or lesion that is the subject of the operation, or the administration of a medication that the patient is allergic to or that is not indicated.

Operative Surgical Errors

Operative surgical errors are those that occur in the operating room during the procedure. Such errors include negligence on the part of the anesthesiologist in administering the right levels of anesthesia to a patient (such negligence can lead to asphyxia, comas, brain damage, organ damage, and even wrongful death), positioning errors causing injury or paralysis to arms/legs or the body, use of un-sterile equipment, operation on the wrong site, perforation or puncture of nearby arteries, veins or organs, nerve damage, or unnecessary duration of surgery.

Post-Operative Surgical Errors

Finally, post–operative surgical errors are those that occur during the recovery or healing phase. Generally, these errors are the result of below–standard nursing or physician care that results in the development of infection, bedsores, sepsis, or other potentially life-threatening conditions. Other types of post-operative negligence occur in the ICU or recovery room, where patients may not be monitored carefully, there is a failure to timely respond to developing respiratory difficulty, or the patient is permitted to remain in a prolonged state of delirium, which can cause cognitive injuries and/or strokes that go undocumented, etc.

Those who have been victimized by surgical errors are often told that the error was a routine complication associated with the surgery. In many instances, however, these errors were in reality caused by negligence, and they can lead to life-altering consequences, increased medical expenses, and continued physical and emotional issues.

Contact Our Baltimore Surgical Error Lawyers

When surgical malpractice has caused harm to you or a loved one, a skilled and dedicated medical malpractice lawyer can help you determine your legal options while advocating for your rights. Lawyers Andrew G. Slutkin and Ethan S. Nochumowitz can provide the legal help needed to address the injuries you have experienced due to medical negligence. Contact our Baltimore surgical malpractice attorneys at 410-385-2225 for a free consultation.