Surgical Errors

The South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys at Lofton & Lofton are renowned for their excellence in personal injury law. Since 1984, we have been dedicated to helping injured victims and families recover compensation for their harm. Our firm emphasizes quality over quantity to provide personalized representation in every case.

Surgical Errors

Surgical errors are a common source of malpractice claims. Due to inherent and preventable risks, operations present a potential minefield of mistakes. Common surgical errors may involve:

• Birth injury
• Heart attack
• Misdiagnosis
• Emergency care
• Aortic dissection
• Cancer treatment
• Bowel obstruction

These errors may be caused by various forms of negligent care. Mistakes during an operation often involve:

• Stitches, sutures
• Allergic reaction
• Lack of sterilization
• Failure to warn, advise
• Delayed response time
• Mistaken patient identity
• Failure to follow protocols
• Failure to detect complications
• Improper administration of medicine

Surgical and outpatient clinics must have a standard procedure for patient intake and delivery. Any mistake prior to release may give rise to a medical malpractice claim.

Consequences of Surgical Errors

Timing and technique are critical to surgery. The slightest mistake can result in serious harm. Consequences of surgical errors can include:

• Coma
• Scarring
• Deformity
• Hemorrhage
• Digestive failure
• Chronic infection
• Delayed recovery
• Infertility, mutation
• Cognitive impairment
• In some, wrongful death

Whether the error caused superficial injury or wrongful death, the effects are often permanent. The degree of negligence and harm will determine the potential medical malpractice award.

Medical Malpractice Liability

Under South Carolina law, surgeons and medical providers have a legal duty to protect the patient from preventable harm. This requires meeting a certain standard of care. When healthcare workers fall below the required level, they breach a legal duty to patients. They are therefore liable for any injuries directly caused by their negligence. Potentially liable parties may include:

• Physicians
• Surgical techs
• Anesthesiologists
• Hospital directors
• Nurse practitioners
• Facility administrators
• Temporary emergency staff

Hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other medical facilities are automatically liable for the careless acts of their staff. Courts have even found staffing agencies and temporary employees liable for surgical errors where patients depend on the available staff.

Medical Malpractice Damages

Because surgical errors can be prohibitively expensive, the injured party should not have to bear the cost. Instead, liable parties should compensate the patient for various losses, including:

• Medical costs
• Physical therapy
• Funeral expenses
• Mileage and parking
• Prescription medication
• Wrongful death benefits
• Special needs education
• Future medical treatment
• Future lost income, earnings
• Pain and suffering, other damages

If a surgical error causes wrongful death, surviving family members are entitled to recover damages associated with lost companionship, guidance, and protection. State law determines the eligibility of immediate family and dependents to bring a wrongful death claim.

Recover Compensation for Your Injury

If you were injured or lost a loved one because of a surgical error, the South Carolina personal injury lawyers at Lofton & Lofton can help. For over 25 years, we have recovered substantial verdicts and settlements for clients throughout South Carolina. Our successful track record is founded on the individual, personalized attention we give to each case. This dedication to service demands that we limit our caseload so that we can provide you with the level of representation you deserve. Trust us to put our extensive experience to work for you with the goal of maximizing compensation in your case. Call 843.722.6319 for a consultation or contact us online.