Surgical Errors
Many of us will, at some point in our lives, need to undergo a surgical procedure to deal with a medical problem. This can range from a simple operation conducted under local anaesthetic to the more complex and invasive types of surgery.
Thousands of such operations are performed every day in the UK and the overwhelming majority are conducted successfully and without complications by competent surgeons. However, occasionally things go wrong and the consequences for the patient can be very serious.
This could be caused by poor technique on the part of the operating surgeon, or a failure to deal adequately with a problem that develops during the procedure. Often the damage can be repaired without any long-term consequences, but in some cases the patient suffers more serious harm or may even die as a result of their injuries.
Our dedicated Clinical Negligence specialists have a wealth of experience in dealing with such cases, including:
• Accidental damage caused to organs, such as bowel perforations during keyhole surgery
• Surgery undertaken by practitioners without appropriate experience, training or supervision
• Nerve damage and injuries to surrounding blood vessels
• Incorrect or inappropriate procedures being carried out
• Surgical equipment or swabs left inside a patient
• Surgery performed on the wrong organ or body part
• Patients not given adequate information regarding the risks involved in a procedure to enable them to make the decision to undergo surgery (known as “informed consent”)
• Burns and perforations caused by diathermic devices used during surgery
All types of surgery involve some element of risk and it is not always possible to avoid complications. However, if you were not properly advised about the risks involved, and you subsequently suffered an injury, you may be able to establish a claim if you can show it is likely you would have not gone through with the procedure if you had been given that advice.
In order to pursue a Clinical Negligence claim relating to a surgical error you must be able to show that the procedure you underwent was not performed to reasonable standard. In addition, you must be able to show that any negligence on the part of the clinicians involved in the surgery caused you injury.
If you think you have received substandard surgery, our Team can advise you on a potential negligence claim.
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