Maryland Attorney for Severe Infections from Surgery
When a surgery is not performed correctly, there is a high chance that a patient could contract an infection. If this happens, a patient may become more susceptible to other severe illnesses as a result of the infection. Under these circumstances, a patient that contracted an infection from surgery can pursue a malpractice lawsuit against the doctor that responsible for their injury. If you contracted a severe infection from surgery, you should consult with an experienced Maryland medical malpractice attorney for severe infections from surgery.
Rice, Murtha & Psoras is here to help you seek compensation for a severe infection that could have been avoided if a surgeon did not act negligently during the surgery. A patient should never have to endure a serious infection and other illnesses because a surgeon did not exercise caution. To schedule a free legal consultation to discuss your potential surgical error lawsuit, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You may also contact the firm online.
Common Causes of Severe Infections from Surgery in Maryland
Patients that are preparing for surgery also expect that a surgeon and their assisting staff will be ready to provide adequate medical care during the procedure. Unfortunately, some patients leave the operating room only to discover later that they have contracted an infection that was caused by surgery. While it is possible to contract an infection after surgery for a number of reasons, many post-surgical infections are the result of malpractice.
The following is a list of common causes of severe infections caused by surgery.
Contamination
Prior to a surgical procedure, it is vital for medical staff to decontaminate all equipment that will be needed for the operation. For example, the medical instruments that will be used to perform the surgery should be sterilized beforehand. However, decontamination does not begin and end with the sterilization of medical instruments.
Medical staff should also be sure to wash their hands thoroughly and to ensure that all medical attire has been decontaminated. Even poor ventilation and drapes used during surgery could play a role in causing a patient to contract an infection. Note, however, that it may be difficult to prove whether proper decontamination occurred on the day of your surgery.
Foreign Object Inside Patient’s Body
Leaving a foreign object inside a patient’s body during surgery is concrete evidence that a surgeon acted negligently when performing an operation. the medical team should always prepare a checklist that details all medical instruments that will be used during the surgical procedure. the list should be consulted before and after the surgery to ensure no instruments are left inside the patient.
Not only can a patient contract an infection from a foreign object being left in the body, but the object can also cause a wide range of other health issues.
Inadequate Patient Preparation
It is also vital for a patient to be adequately prepared for surgery. For example, if the site of the incision is not disinfected correctly, the patient could become easily infected.
Poor Post-Operation Care
After surgery, a patient should be provided with detailed instructions about how to manage their wound until it fully heals. If the patient underwent a major surgery, the doctor may even request that the patient schedule a follow-up appointment to determine whether they are healing properly. If a doctor provides a poor post-operation treatment that causes a patient to contract an infection, the doctor could be held liable for malpractice.
To learn more about filing a medical malpractice lawsuit after an infection during a surgery, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Maryland lawyer for severe infections from surgery.
Proving Negligence in a Lawsuit for Severe Infections from Surgery
Proving liability for a severe infection after a surgery can be difficult. As mentioned, it can be challenging to prove whether a surgeon properly sterilized medical instruments before the procedure. However, our firm can help you build your case against a negligent surgeon.
To succeed in a legal case for a severe infection due to surgery, you must be able to show how the surgeon or other medical staff involved acted negligently. To prove negligence in a medical malpractice case, the following four elements must be shown:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care
- The defendant breached their duty of care to the plaintiff (e.g., caused an infection)
- The plaintiff was injured as a result of the defendant’s actions
- The plaintiff’s injuries and losses can be compensated in a court of law
If you are concerned about proving negligence in your surgical malpractice lawsuit, our firm is here to alleviate your concerns.
Work with Our Committed Maryland Malpractice Lawyer to File a Lawsuit for a Severe Infection from Surgery
If you or a family member sustained a severe infection during surgery, you should contact an experienced Maryland lawyer for severe infections from a surgical procedure. Committed injury lawyer Randolph Rice has worked on a number of medical malpractice lawsuits, and he is here to offer you the legal representation you deserve. To schedule your free consultation to speak about the details of your potential case, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291. You can also use the online submission form to schedule your legal consultation.
