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Surgical Errors and Complications

Upstate New York Law Firm to Pursue Damages If You Were Injured During Surgery

When you gave consent to surgery, you probably trusted in the competence of your surgeon. Unfortunately, on annual basis, thousands of patients are injured by mistakes made by surgical teams. These injuries may be catastrophic or even fatal. They may necessitate long recovery times and result in significant emotional distress. If you were harmed or a loved one was killed by surgical errors and complications, you should discuss what happened with the seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco and Falgiatano. Many rules must be followed even before complaints are filed. Most people don't have enough saved to address the harm if their surgeons inadvertently injured them. However, we may be able to pursue damages from any health care provider responsible.

Surgical Errors and Complications

Not every surgical error is the result of medical malpractice. This is why it's so important to talk to our lawyers. Our attorneys work with experts even before filing cases to make sure our clients have legitimate claims. Many surgical errors are preventable. They may be caused by improper planning, errors before surgery, errors during surgery, incompetence, fatigue, substance abuse, and unsanitary operating room or equipment, or poor communication between healthcare providers, such as technicians and doctors, or doctors and nurses.

Never Events

Never events are serious, preventable and expensive medical errors such as operating on the wrong body part. Although it is rare, operation on the wrong body part does happen from time to time. Mistake like this can result in removal of a necessary organ or lead to damage of other structures within a patient’s body. A patient may experience a higher risk of infection and sustain unnecessary scarring. If your surgeon operated on the wrong part of your body, you may be able to recover damages by establishing that the surgeon failed to abide by his professional duty of care, such that you were injured. Syracuse surgeons are expected to abide by the accepted practices of other reasonably competent surgeons in Syracuse.

Wrong Surgery

When the wrong type of surgery is performed, you may also face the risk of unnecessary injuries. We may be able to hold the surgeon accountable in court, for instance, if he came to work inebriated and performed a bowel surgery you didn't need, while failing to perform the one that was scheduled. We will look at what a reasonably competent Syracuse surgeon would've done under the same circumstances to determine whether your doctor failed you.

Foreign Objects

Unfortunately, surgeons may cause surgical errors and complications by leaving a sponge or other surgical tools within the patient’s body during an operation. The tool can cause serious harm and may not be detected immediately. Additionally, the patient will need one or more additional surgical procedures to remove the sponge or tool.

Anesthesia Complications

Surgical errors and complications may occur due to a nurse or anesthesiologist’s failure to provide proper levels of anesthesia and monitor your loved one’s vital signs during a procedure. Anesthesia errors during surgery could result in brain damage or death. For example, lack of oxygen during surgery could result in a patient suffering permanent disability such as paralysis. An anesthesiologist should verify your medical history prior to surgery and determine whether you have any allergies or conditions that would make anesthesia inappropriate.

Nerve Damage

When a Syracuse surgeon is careless, she may damage nerves or tissues during the surgery. In some cases, nerve damage requires additional surgeries and physical rehabilitation. If our lawyers can establish that your surgeon did not abide by the professional standard of care while performing your surgery, you may be able to recover the costs of these treatments.

Wrongful Death

Surgical errors and complications may be so serious that they result in the patient's death. In New York, you may be able to pursue damages and wrongful death lawsuit if your loved one was killed as the result of an error made by a surgeon where that error was the result of your surgeon failing to abide by the professional standard of care. You will be able to recover only pecuniary losses in a wrongful death lawsuit. While nothing can truly make up for the loss of a loved one, damages can provide some relief, including financial relief in the form of funeral and medical expenses and loss of earnings, to a grieving family.

Hire Our Trial Attorneys for Your Surgical Malpractice Lawsuit

Patients injured by surgical errors and complications in Upstate New York should call us. The seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice lawyers of DeFrancisco & Falgiatano sue negligent providers in Auburn, Rochester, Watertown, Lowville, Oswego, Canandaigua, Wampsville, Ithaca, Lyons, Oneida, Cooperstown, Utica, Elmira, Herkimer, and Binghamton. Fill out our online form or call us at 833-200-2000.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
"We were very impressed with how Jeff DeFrancisco represented us at trial and we were extremely happy when the jury found in our favor." D.M., Auburn, NY
★★★★★
"I suffered a serious injury as a result of medical malpractice. My husband and I retained Jeff DeFrancisco to assist us in this case. We were extremely happy with his representation and highly recommend him." Kelley R., Syracuse, NY
★★★★★
Since the insurance company was unwilling to settle the matter my case ultimately went to trial. At trial Jeff DeFrancisco did an absolutely amazing job by obtaining a very favorable result for me." T.H., Oneida, NY
★★★★★
"I highly recommend DeFrancisco & Falgiatano - Charlie represented me for a medical malpractice case. He is the best of the best. He is friendly and I am very happy with the representation he provided." Roger N., Oneida, NY