Atlanta Post-Operative Infection Lawyer
Post-operative infections are somewhat common. Fortunately, they are often preventable. Proper sanitizing procedures should prevent infections during and immediately after an operation. Additionally, follow-up care and thorough at-home instructions should prevent severe infections.
However, if a medical professional commits an error that results in contamination of the surgical site, you may have legal options. An Atlanta post-operative attorney could help you analyze the available evidence and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. A seasoned attorney could handle all critical legal aspects of your case while you focus on your physical recovery.
How Do Post-Operative Infections Occur?
An infection can occur any time germs come in contact with the body. One of the most common causes of post-operative infections is a contaminated instrument or person coming in contact with the patient’s incisions after surgery.
Infections can also occur deep inside the patient’s body. For example, if a surgeon inserts a contaminated medical device in the patient, an infection could spread to that individual’s organs and bones.
An infection could also occur due to other surgical complications. For example, if a patient suffers from a blockage or a leak, he or she may develop an infection days or weeks after the surgery. A skilled attorney in the area could review a patient’s medical record to determine the potential cause of the post-operative surgery.
Symptoms of Infection After Surgery
There are many symptoms of infection that post-operative patients should take note of following a procedure. Upon discharge, medical providers should provide patients with detailed instructions and notes on what to look out for. Common signs of infection include:
- Redness,
- Swelling,
- Drainage,
- Abnormal pain, and
- Fever.
If something does not feel right after surgery, patients should always call their medical provider to inform them of the issue. When an infection is caught early enough, antibiotics can generally fix the issue.
If the situation is not caught soon enough, the infection could progress, leading to sepsis or even death. Thus, it is crucial that patients reach out to a doctor as soon as possible. A post-operative infection attorney could provide quality legal representation once the patient is in a stable condition.
Determining Whether an Infection was Caused by Negligence
As mentioned above, infections are common among post-operative patients because there are germs everywhere. Contaminated objects could come in contact with the surgical site at any point.
It is important that patients consider what caused the infection and what could have been done to prevent it. If the medical provider took reasonable and prudent steps that any normal physician would take to prevent infection, it may be difficult to establish liability.
However, if the medical team failed to follow sanitization procedures or put a contaminated medical device in the patient’s body, he or she might have a strong negligence case against those parties. Additionally, if the medical provider did not prescribe antibiotics when necessary or failed to provide the patient with adequate instructions for keeping the surgical site clean, that may constitute negligence. A seasoned attorney could help post-operative patients assess liability for an infection.
Recoverable Damages in a Post-Operative Infection Case
If a patient has an actionable case for a post-operative infection, he or she could work with a lawyer to seek compensation for many economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages may include costs related to subsequent surgeries to clean the infection or remove a contaminated medical device. Other financial losses include:
- Future medical expenses,
- Lost wages, and
- Lost earning capacity.
Patients may also pursue non-economic damages for pain and suffering. Family members of a deceased patient could also seek compensation for the full value of the life of the decedent.
Call an Atlanta Post-Operative Infection Attorney for Legal Help
It can be difficult to determine whether a post-operative infection warrants legal action. An Atlanta post-operative infection lawyer could determine whether your case is likely to succeed.
If you have a valid claim, our legal team could work hard to gather evidence that proves the medical provider is at fault. Call our office today to set up a free consultation.
