No matter how big or small you may think your surgery is, all surgery can
be extremely dangerous. When someone is entering your body for any purpose,
care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the highest standard
of care is being upheld. Unfortunately, not every time a surgeon makes
a mistake is it considered medical malpractice. In fact, hospitals and
doctors may not be held accountable for the life-changing mistakes that
are made during a surgery. Trusted
Portland medical malpractice attorney
Patrick L. Block explains what is considered medical malpractice during surgery and when
you can take action!
In order for a
surgical error to be considered medical malpractice, a few things must be proven. First,
it must be shown that you and the doctor had a doctor-patient relationship
at the time the injury occurred. Secondly, it must be shown that the doctor
acted in a manner different than the standard level of care would expect
them to act and that another doctor in the same situation never would
have made. Finally, there must be a direct correlation between the actions
of the medical professional in question and the injury that you have suffered.
When can medical malpractice occur during surgery?
Surgery is, at the core of it, a dangerous medical procedure with many
factors that could cause life-changing injury or even death. It is the
responsibility of the medical professional overseeing the surgery to inform
the patient of the possible risks, and do their job to prevent any mistakes
from happening on their watch.
Unfortunately, surgical errors can occur due to:
- Neglect of the patient
- Incompetence of the doctor
- Surgery under the influence
- Insufficient planning
- Fatigue
- Improper surgical process
- Poor communication between staff
The kind of
errors that result from surgery are vast and wide reaching. Some common examples involve leaving surgical
equipment inside of the body, improperly
administering anesthesia, operating on the wrong patient or body part, or injuring nerves.
The best way to determine whether or not an injury you suffered during
a surgery can be considered surgical malpractice is by speaking with an
experienced
medical malpractice lawyer in Portland. At
The Law Offices of Patrick L. Block, P.C., our attorney dedicates himself solely to fighting for those that have
been injured by doctors and nurses in Portland and across Oregon. When
you work with our firm, you can be confident that the best possible attorney
is on your side.
Get started today!