Fulton County Wrong Procedure Lawyer
When someone is subjected to the wrong surgical procedure, and suffers severe injuries as a result, that person could be entitled to legal remedy in the form of compensation. A Fulton County wrong procedure lawyer could review your case and help you determine your path to financial recovery if you have been injured by a negligent medical provider. A skilled surgical error attorney could tirelessly advocate for your interests at each stage of the legal process, whether by negotiating a settlement or presenting your case in a court of law with cutting-edge technology.
Types of Wrong Procedures
Wrong procedures could manifest in number of different forms, with some of the most common being a surgery performed on the wrong joint or ligament, operating on the wrong side of the body, operating on the wrong limb, and operating on the wrong side of the vertebrae, and removing the wrong organs.
According to O.C.G.A. § 51-1-27, medical providers are required to use a reasonable level of skill and care when acting in the scope of their profession. The standard of care is that which a reasonably competent medical professional would provide in the same or similar circumstances. As such, an injury stemming from the failure to adhere to this standard of skill and care could be grounds for legal action.
Causes of Wrong Procedures
Wrong procedures are typically preventable, with some of the most frequent causes including the following scenarios:
- Insufficient initial patient workup,
- Poorly trained staff,
- Communication breakdowns, and
- Insufficient surgical timeout to verify patient information and procedure information.
When a surgeon conducts the wrong procedure on a patient, the victim could suffer devastating consequences. The physician could operate on organs which are perfectly healthy, resulting in unnecessary complications for the patient. Brain damage, nerve damage, infections, additional procedures, loss of limb use, continual medical care, and even death are all complications which could arise from this type of surgical error. Fortunately, there are attorneys with resources like in-house doctors that could evaluate the specific types of losses victims have incurred.
Pursuing Financial Damages
A wrong procedure attorney in Fulton County may be able to help malpractice victims seek financial damages for their injuries and other losses from the negligent medical provider.
Economic damages refer to specific losses such as lost wages, medical bills, hospital bills, therapy expenses, ambulance bills, and prescriptions. On the other hand, non-economic damages are not easily quantifiable, referring to losses such as:
- Loss of life enjoyment,
- Emotional anguish,
- Disfigurement,
- Pain and suffering, and
- Loss of consortium.
Time Limits to Pursue Legal Action
It is vital to know and adhere to the time limits imposed by Georgia law on malpractice actions, as failure to do so could bar an injured victim from any form of financial recovery. O.C.G.A. § 9-3-71 provides wrong procedure victims a period of two years from the date of the injury to bring a civil claim for damages.
There is a broad five-year time limit, known as a statute of repose, which applies in cases where the surgical error was not discovered right away. Under these circumstances, an injured victim must file suit no later than five years from the malpractice date. Other exceptions may apply, making it imperative that a wrong procedure lawyer in Fulton County be sought.
Consult with a Fulton County Wrong Procedure Attorney
All surgeries are accompanied by a certain level of risk, but when an error happens and the entirely wrong procedure is performed, patients may be left with a host of unnecessary complications. A Fulton County wrong procedure lawyer could review your specific situation to help determine whether malpractice played a part, and if so, pursue the compensation you may be owed.
Arrange your consultation with a knowledgeable attorney by calling at any hour for your free case review.
