Surgical Errors Attorneys in St. Louis, Missouri
At the Gogel Law Firm, our surgical errors lawyer in St. Louis knows that all surgeries involve risk, even when the physician, their team, and the facility have an unblemished reputation for excellence in their medical industry or field.
That is why all patients are typically presented with an informed consent document indicating they are aware of the risks associated with the surgery and must sign the document before moving forward with the procedure.
Our St. Louis personal injury attorney and law firm founder, Jeremy A. Gogel, believes that whether your surgery is required or elective, trusting our Missouri medical professionals is second nature until something goes wrong during surgery.
Unfortunately, an exceedingly small error can lead to significant consequences, and when they do, our St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys would like to review your unique circumstances and help you build a claim against the negligent party to pursue the financial recovery options you may be entitled to.
What is a Surgical Error?
A surgical error is a preventable mistake made during surgery, which goes beyond the known risks of surgery that are outlined in the informed consent document.
They are unexpected and are often caused by negligence.
For a surgical error to be considered medical malpractice, the surgeon performing the procedure must fail to follow the appropriate standard of care that another healthcare professional who has the same training and experience, in the same industry or field, would offer under similar circumstances.
Next, that breach must be the cause of the harm suffered by the patient.
When we can prove that one or more of the healthcare providers on your surgical team committed a surgical error that caused your injury, we may have a medical malpractice case.
At The Gogel Law Firm, Our Medical Malpractice Lawyers in St. Louis, MO Focuses On The Following Practice Areas:
- Anesthesia Error
- Birth Injury
- Delayed Diagnosis
- Emergency Room Case
- Failure To Diagnose Cancer
- Failure To Diagnose Stroke
- Hospital Negligence
- Opioid Death
What are the Most Common Types of Surgical Errors?
Medical malpractice and surgical errors can cause extensive harm to a patient who was seeking a solution to a healthcare problem and can require additional medical care or cause lifelong injuries.
Some of the most common types of surgical errors include:
- Administering too much or too little anesthesia
- Performing an incision at the wrong location
- Leaving surgical equipment, like a sponge or other instrument inside a patient
- Injuring a nerve during surgery
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Operating on the wrong patient
If you have suffered an injury from a surgical error, contact our experienced surgical errors attorneys in St. Louis today to discuss your case during a free consultation, so you will have access to the resources you need to make informed decisions about your recovery options.
Why Do Surgical Errors Occur in St. Louis, Missouri?
Each surgery and the staff that performs the procedure are unique. Even when these teams work together often, complacency can be an issue inside the operating room, which leaves patients at risk of surgeons forgoing the appropriate checks and balances necessary to ensure their safety.
Other common reasons surgical errors occur in St. Louis may include:
- Incompetence
Not all surgeons have the same amount of experience, and if yours lacks the skills necessary to perform the surgery successfully, patients can get severely injured or even lose their lives.
- Poor Communication
Any type of miscommunication between the patient and the staff before and during surgery can lead to preventable mistakes including, the surgeon marking the wrong site for surgery, failures to ensure all surgical equipment is in the room and operating properly, or confirming the proper dosage of a patient’s medication.
- Insufficient Planning
Reviewing and preparing for any complications that could possibly occur is a proactive approach to avoiding a surgical error. When the surgeon and support staff do not consider all the potential risks – and how they will respond to them – surgical errors can be catastrophic.
- Surgeon and Support Staff Fatigue
Surgeons work exceptionally long shifts and often participate in lengthy procedures that can leave them physically, emotionally, and psychologically fatigued, which can lead to serious medical errors.
- Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Surgeons have incredibly stressful jobs that require long hours and little sleep, which leads some to develop an alcohol or chemical dependency that continues in the operating room.
- Negligence
When surgeons do not follow the standard of care required to successfully perform surgery, including ensuring all instruments are properly sterilized, or simply not placing their full attention on the procedure, people can get hurt.
Contact Our Skilled Surgical Errors Lawyer in St. Louis at the Gogel Law Firm Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you were the victim of a surgical error or lost a loved one to a preventable action or inaction that occurred during surgery, contact our experienced surgical errors attorney in St. Louis today to discuss your tragic loss and learn how we can help you pursue justice today to schedule a free consultation by calling (314) 370-8173 or contact us online to have one of our skilled lawyers call you.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Our Surgical Errors Attorney in St. Louis, Missouri
What Type of Financial Recovery Can I Pursue After a Surgical Error in St. Louis?
A surgical error causes injury to a person who was seeking healthcare solutions, which may result in huge medical bills, corrective follow-up procedures which require time away from work, leading to lost wages, and additional expenses. Each of those tangible costs will be outlined in our surgical error personal injury claim against the negligent party. In some cases, the damage can be permanent, which will be accounted for as well.
Can I Pursue More than One Healthcare Provider and the Medical Facility After a Surgical Error Injury?
Surgical errors are complex medical malpractice cases that are unique to both the injured and the person or party who negligently caused their harm. Your surgical error case is unique and will require a complete investigation to pursue the proper person, persons, or healthcare facility for the best outcome for your unique claim.
Can I File a Medical Malpractice Claim if My Loved One Dies from a Surgical Error in St. Louis?
In rare instances, surgical negligence can lead to the loss of life. In these cases, the surviving family members may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim against the negligent party. At The Gogel Law Firm, our surgical errors attorney in St. Louis will review the overall requirements of these claims with you and your family to ensure no detail is left to chance during our pursuit of the proper financial recovery for your loss.
