Charleston Surgical Mishap Attorney
There is an inherent risk associated with having surgery, but as patients, we weigh the pros and cons and make the right choices for us given the unique circumstances involved. In the process, we expect the medical professional with whom we entrust our care to operate under the careful standards set by the medical profession. When this isn’t the case, however, you can experience serious losses that directly affect your future. Fortunately, an experienced Charleston surgical mishap attorney can help.
Is It Medical Malpractice?
As adults, we recognize that mistakes are part of the human condition, and anyone can make them, including in the surgical setting. While an honest mistake generally doesn’t meet the requirements for medical malpractice, failure to proceed in the manner that one’s professional peers would under similar circumstances can.
In fact, the elements necessary to bring a successful surgical mishap claim include each of the following:
- You were owed a duty of care, which refers to the medical professional having a responsibility to your safety and is established by the doctor/patient relationship.
- The medical professional breached this duty of care, which is where negligence comes in. When it comes to medical malpractice, this means failing to follow the standards set by the medical provider’s prudent professional peers under similar circumstances.
- As a direct result, you suffered losses that are addressed by the law.
Common Surgical Errors
Medical errors can have a profound impact on the lives of patients, but surgical errors and mishaps are among the most serious. While every case is unique to the specifics involved, surgical mishaps tend to fall into the following primary categories:
- Performing so-called surgical never events, which are surgical errors that simply shouldn’t happen, including performing surgery on the wrong body part or patient, performing the wrong surgery, or unintentionally leaving a foreign object in the patient
- Administering the wrong medication, administering it incorrectly, or administering the wrong dosage, which can relate to anesthesia, pain medication, or any of the other medications that play a critical role in surgeries
- Failing to follow the protocols necessary for hygiene and disinfection, which are key to preventing dangerous infections that can be life-threatening
- Performing surgery while impaired or exhausted, which can lead to serious consequences
- Failing to effectively communicate with the surgical team, which sets the stage for surgical mishaps
An Experienced Charleston Surgical Mishap Lawyer Is Standing By to Help
The accomplished surgical mishap attorneys at Parham Smith & Archenhold – proudly serving Charleston, South Carolina – are dedicated to fiercely advocating for the compensation to which you’re entitled in the aftermath of a surgical error and will spare no effort in our quest to do so. Your ability to recover as fully as possible hinges on your claim, so please reach out and contact us online or call 864-432-1796 for more information about what we can do to help you today.