Columbia Surgical Errors Lawyers
Surgery is a serious medical procedure that is not without its inherent risks. However, when patients go into surgery, they expect that their surgeons and nurses are all aware, alert, and practicing excellent care. Unfortunately, surgeons in Columbia sometimes act negligently or make inexcusable mistakes while performing operations. Often, surgical errors result in additional health complications that prolong recovery time and result in even more expenses. The Columbia legal team at the Goings Law Firm, LLC, believes this is unacceptable, and any victim of medical malpractice should consider legal options for recourse.
Our Columbia surgical errors lawyers are committed to helping those who have suffered injuries and illnesses due to surgical errors. We fight diligently for medical malpractice victims in Columbia, and we may also work tirelessly on your behalf for the funds you need to recover.
Common Surgical Errors
Surgical errors in Columbia and elsewhere often happen due to negligence on the part of hospital staff and medical professionals. Some of the most common surgical errors include:
- Operating on the wrong patient
- Operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving surgical instruments in the body
- Puncturing internal organs
These surgical errors can cause devastating damage for Columbia patients who already have medical issues. Patients who have suffered from medical negligence like this should focus on physical and emotional recovery. As you do so, a Columbia lawyer can fight on your behalf for financial restitution from those responsible.
Surgical errors and the health complications they can cause
There are certain things surgeons are required to do when performing on a patient. Surgeons are required to maintain a relatively high quality of care. They must also treat the patient with a requisite care that ensures they aren’t unnecessarily risking the life or wellbeing of the patient. The type and depth of the surgery has to meet the standards established by their medical education and the standard operating procedure in the greater medical community. They must also use care before the procedure, during the course of the surgery, and when caring for the patient after the fact. Surgeries have an inherent risk that comes with them, no matter how minor. A good surgeon accurately assesses the risk in each specific case, adequately warns their patient about the risk level, and does everything in their power to mitigate it. Unfortunately, these standards are not always met. Particularly common types of surgical errors include surgery related to an incorrect diagnosis, blood transfusions of the wrong blood type, surgery performed on the wrong body part or the wrong patient entirely, and failure to remove surgical tools from the patient’s body.
How medical negligence is determined in South Carolina
The United States is famous for its difficult and intricate laws relating to medical negligence. South Carolina is substantially similar to the rest of the country in this regard. In South Carolina, a medical malpractice suit must be filed within three years of the operation in question. South Carolina also, like most states, places a limit on the amount in medical malpractice damages a patient may receive. This includes a $350,000 limit a single institution may owe, and $1.05 million limit on how much the injured party may receive, regardless of the number of defendants named in the suit. South Carolina also requires that you file two distinctive sets of paperwork – a Notice of Intent to File Suit and an expert affidavit – before you can even file a medical malpractice lawsuit. These rules, along with more complex regulations on the book, make it necessary that you have a highly competent and qualified team like the one we have here at Goings Law Firm, LLC to navigate the ins and outs of South Carolina malpractice law on your behalf. It isn’t possible for an individual to handle all of this on their own, and a less experienced firm can’t guarantee the same results as Goings Law Firm. LLC, potentially endangering the damages you’re entitled to and drawing out the length of the case.
What compensation could I be owed if a surgeon makes an error?
Your compensation can vary wildly based on the specific details of your case. As previously mentioned, the State of South Carolina prevents you from receiving more than $1.05 million total, regardless of the actual amount in damages that can be proved in your case. A number of variables can affect the amount you’re entitled to, including the category of negligence, the number of parties named in the suit, who is determined to be liable, and the hospital’s insurance policies. It’s very difficult to speculate about the potential damages owed without these particulars. That’s why it’s imperative that you call (803) 350-9230 immediately to speak to one of our imminently qualified team members to determine exactly how we can help you receive the compensation you deserve and the end result you need.
What happens if a person dies due to a surgical error? Could the family take legal action?
In the unfortunate event that a loved one has died due to inappropriate care from a surgeon, their remaining family members do have legal options. In these cases, the living family may file what’s referred to as a “wrongful death lawsuit.” This is a different type of case from the rest on this page and brings with it its own tangled web of laws and regulations that can be very difficult for inexperienced medical malpractice attorneys to navigate. Not just anyone can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the deceased. This right is left to the executor of the person’s estate – often the closest living relative of the deceased. This can get complicated if the person’s estate is contested, especially if lawsuits are being brought between living relatives of the deceased. Wrongful death lawsuits also carry the same caps on damages as other types of medical malpractice suits in the State of South Carolina. These damages can cover a number of costs, including the cost of treatment, emotional damage suffered by the deceased, and lost wages as a result of the improper operation.
Speak with a Surgical Errors Lawyer in Columbia
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a surgical error in Columbia, there are legal steps you can take to seek financial compensation. Our surgical errors lawyers at the Goings Law Firm, LLC, understand the challenges you may be facing in the wake of a medical malpractice incident, and we are ready to help you win the funds you need to alleviate any financial burden incurred. Call our Columbia offices at (803) 350-9230 today to speak with a compassionate member of our medical malpractice team.
