DeKalb County Outpatient Surgery Errors
When patients go to an outpatient surgery center for an operation, they trust that the medical team will provide them with adequate care. Unfortunately, doctors and other healthcare workers may commit errors during surgery that cause harm to the patient.
If you suffered damages after an operation, you may have cause for an injury claim. Call us today to speak with one of our skilled medical malpractice attorneys about DeKalb County outpatient surgery errors.
Common Causes of Outpatient Surgery Errors
Many surgical errors are a result of the negligence of a medical provider. Some of the most common mistakes are related to poor patient selection, lack of proper equipment, and improperly trained staff.
Elderly people are generally at a higher risk of complications during surgery than younger patients. Choosing to operate on an older person in an outpatient setting can be considered an error if he or she was not a good candidate for that surgery.
Using the proper equipment is also crucial to the success of an operation. If something goes wrong during the surgery, the right supplies could potentially save the patient’s life. Further, allowing untrained medical staff to operate on a patient, or assist with the operation, could negatively affect the outcome of the operation.
It is important to note that not all surgical errors are caused by negligence. If the medical provider did not deviate from the standard of care, there is no valid claim. A lawyer skilled at handling outpatient malpractice could help patients identify the cause of the surgical error and determine if negligence was a factor.
Hospitalization After a Mistake During Surgery
The state requires outpatient surgery centers to have relationships with other medical facilities to ensure a patient can be transferred quickly in the event of an emergency. If there is a surgical error, the outpatient medical providers may have a patient transferred during the operation. Delaying an individual’s transfer could have life-threatening consequences for a patient.
When a person’s condition does not stabilize after surgery, the outpatient center may hold off on discharging that patient. Unfortunately, if the medical team does not notice the problem in time, they may send the patient home too soon.
Someone experiencing complications after being discharged may have to seek emergency medical care. A local attorney could help those pursuing a surgical error claim understand how hospitalization after leaving an outpatient center could affect a case.
Collecting Evidence for a Surgical Error Claim in DeKalb County
One of the most important steps in a surgical error claim is gathering evidence to prove liability. An attorney may assist a patient in this process by requesting the complete medical record related to the procedure. If there was any hospitalization following the surgery, he or she would request those records as well.
Lawyers review these documents in search of information concerning vital signs, operative notes, and anything else that may prove an error occurred during the surgical process. Legal counsel could also interview relevant witnesses, such as the patient, family members, or anyone present during pre-operative appointments or the surgery. These individuals could testify to the circumstances throughout the operation and draw attention to any potential errors.
An attorney could also seek out an expert witness to give his or her opinion on the case and determine if there was a breach in the standard of care. A surgical errors lawyer could use these records and testimonies to present a strong case in court.
Talk to an Attorney About DeKalb County Outpatient Surgery Errors
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries as a result of an outpatient surgery error, you should contact an experienced attorney at the Warshauer Woodward Atkins. Our team could evaluate your claim and help you seek monetary damages. Call us today for a free review of your DeKalb County outpatient surgery errors case.
