Long Island & New York Surgical Error Attorneys

When Should You Pursue a Surgery Error Compensation Claim?

Surgical error cases arise when surgeons, nurse practitioners or anesthesiologists fail to adhere to accepted medical practices. Serious injuries or death can be devastating for families and they are left struggling to cope emotionally and economically with the damages. A surgery error compensation claim may be the answer to help deal with the high costs of damages and the emotional stress of serious injuries or the loss of a loved one.

Surgical Errors in the Operating Room

Not all surgical injuries occur due to a failure to adhere to accepted medical practices. Cases where surgeons have not deviated from accepted medical practices do not provide a basis for surgical error cases. Surgery often involves risks.

However, there are common surgical errors in the operating room that are medical malpractice. The following are a few examples:

• Surgery on the wrong body part
• Surgery on the wrong patient
• Unnecessary surgery
• Delayed surgery
• Failure to obtain informed consent
• Failure to remove surgical instruments from the body
• Incision errors
• Damaged nerves or organs due to wrong incisions
• Misdiagnosis resulting in improper or unnecessary surgery

A failure to obtain informed consent occurs when the physician does not explain the risks involved with the surgery to the patient, or if the child is a minor, to the parents or legal guardians. When surgery involves risks, the party must give consent to proceed with surgery despite the risks.

Underlying Causes of Surgical Errors

Any number of factors can result in surgical errors. Poor staff communication can lead to misunderstandings. Surgeons or their assistants are sometimes poorly trained, or they are exhausted and should not be operating because they are not thinking clearly. When surgeons are not paying attention or are distracted, they may make mistakes. Rushing to finish surgery can also result in errors.

Consult with an Experienced Surgical Error Attorney

We encourage you to contact us if you believe that surgical errors resulted in serious injury or caused the death of a loved one. Our attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP are experienced and compassionate about the assistance we provide. We can discuss your issues in a free consultation. Unless we recover compensation on your behalf, you owe no fees.

Call us toll free at 888.519.6400, or contact us in Garden City at 516.248.2234, or in Flushing-Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx at 718.539.3100. You can also fill in our contact form, and we will get in touch with you.