Surgical Error Attorneys Chicago

Surgical Error Attorneys Chicago

Joseph Conboy | March 22, 2025 | Medical Malpractice
Surgical Error Attorneys Chicago
Surgical error attorneys Chicago

Surgical errors are a serious concern that can lead to severe injuries, long recovery times, and even life-threatening conditions. If you or a loved one has been harmed due to a surgical error, Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers is here to help. We understand how these errors can affect your life, and we are committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve.

Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers has experience handling complex surgical error cases. Our legal team specializes in medical malpractice claims and has helped numerous clients who have suffered from surgical mistakes.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of medical negligence, we will work diligently to ensure your rights are protected and that the responsible party is held accountable. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and explore your legal options.

Understanding Surgical Errors

Surgical errors can cause serious harm to patients. These mistakes can occur during surgery, affecting a person’s health and well-being. When surgeons or medical professionals make mistakes, it can lead to long-term effects. If a surgical error has harmed you, you should understand your rights and how to pursue a medical malpractice claim.

What Is a Surgical Error?

A surgical error happens when a surgeon or another medical professional makes a mistake during surgery. This can include errors like performing the wrong surgery, leaving objects inside the body, or cutting in the wrong place. Surgical errors can result in serious injuries, infections, or even death. These mistakes are a form of medical malpractice.

If a surgical error caused your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A skilled medical malpractice lawyer can help you file a claim and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.

Common Types of Surgical Errors

  • Wrong surgical procedure: Performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong part of the body.
  • Wrong site surgery: Operating on the wrong side or area of the body.
  • Anesthesia errors: Incorrect dosage or improper administration of anesthesia.
  • Surgical instruments left inside: Leaving surgical tools or sponges inside the body.
  • Infections: Failing to properly sterilize equipment or follow infection-control procedures.

These errors can cause serious harm, and victims may be entitled to compensation.

Causes of Surgical Errors

Causes of surgical errors

Surgical errors can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, the problem is caused by a surgeon’s mistake, while other times, it may be due to equipment failure or a lack of proper planning. Understanding the causes can help you identify who is at fault and how to proceed with a medical malpractice claim.

Surgeon and Medical Staff Negligence

Negligence by a surgeon or medical staff is a leading cause of surgical errors. Surgeons have a responsibility to provide the standard of care to their patients. If they fail to follow the correct procedures, make errors during surgery, or act carelessly, they may be considered negligent.

Other medical professionals, like nurses or anesthesiologists, may also contribute to surgical errors if they fail to do their jobs correctly. If negligence is found, the responsible parties may be held accountable in a medical malpractice case.

Defective Medical Equipment

Medical equipment must be in good working order to perform surgeries safely. Sometimes, defective equipment causes surgical errors. For example, malfunctioning machines or broken surgical instruments can result in harm during an operation. In these cases, the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment could be held responsible for the injury.

If your injury was caused by faulty equipment, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help you investigate and pursue a claim against the manufacturer or supplier of the defective item.

Misdiagnosis or Poor Preoperative Planning

Poor diagnosis or failure to plan properly before surgery can also lead to surgical errors. If a doctor misdiagnoses your condition, they might perform unnecessary or incorrect surgery. Similarly, if the surgical team does not plan the procedure properly, it can lead to complications during the operation.

A surgeon’s failure to properly assess and prepare for surgery can contribute to errors and injuries. This type of mistake may also be grounds for a medical malpractice claim.

Anesthesia Errors and Medication Mistakes

Anesthesia errors are common in surgical error cases. If anesthesia is administered incorrectly, it can lead to serious complications, including brain damage, heart failure, or death. Mistakes in administering medication before, during, or after surgery can also result in harm to the patient.

Anesthesia errors often occur due to negligence on the part of the anesthesiologist or medical team. If you’ve suffered from anesthesia mistakes, a personal injury attorney can help you pursue compensation for your injuries.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Surgical Error Case?

When there’s a surgical error, make sure to find out who is at fault. Different people may be responsible, such as the surgeon, hospital, or other medical professionals.

Here’s a look at who may be held accountable for a surgical mistake:

Surgeons and Operating Room Staff

Surgeons are the main people responsible for what happens during surgery. If the surgeon makes a mistake, they can be held liable for your injury. Other staff, such as nurses and assistants, also play an important role in the surgery. If they make mistakes, such as giving the wrong medication or not following instructions, they may be held responsible as well.

It’s best to look at all the people involved to see who made the error and caused harm to you. A lawyer can help investigate this.

Hospitals and Medical Facilities

Hospitals and other medical facilities can also be responsible if they do not provide a safe environment. For example, if the hospital does not have enough trained staff or if the operating room is not properly maintained, it can lead to surgical errors.

Hospitals have a duty to ensure that their staff is well-trained and that their facilities are up to standard. If the hospital fails to do this, they may be held accountable for any injuries caused by their negligence.

Anesthesiologists and Nurses

Anesthesiologists and nurses play an important role during surgery. If the anesthesiologist makes a mistake with the anesthesia or the nurse doesn’t follow the surgeon’s instructions, it can lead to serious problems.

If either of these professionals makes an error, they may be responsible for the injury. Make sure to look at every member of the surgical team to see if they contributed to the mistake.

Medical Device Manufacturers

Sometimes, surgical errors happen because of faulty or defective equipment. If the surgical instruments or medical devices used during surgery malfunction, the company that made them may be at fault. For example, a broken surgical tool or malfunctioning medical device can cause injury.

In these cases, the manufacturer of the device may be responsible. A lawyer can help you file a claim against the manufacturer to get compensation for your injuries.

Proving Medical Malpractice in a Surgical Error Case

To win a medical malpractice case, you need to prove that the medical professional or facility made a mistake that caused harm. Here’s how we can help you prove that malpractice happened.

Establishing Negligence

Negligence means that someone did not do their job properly. For example, if a surgeon makes a mistake by operating on the wrong part of the body, that’s negligence. To prove a surgical error case, you need to show that the surgeon or medical staff did not provide the standard care expected.

A lawyer can help you gather evidence and show that the responsible party was negligent in their actions.

Gathering Evidence

In a surgical error case, evidence is key. This may include:

  • Medical records: These show your diagnosis, treatment, and surgery.
  • Witness statements: People who were there can explain what happened.
  • Photos or videos: These can show how the error occurred.
  • Expert opinions: Medical experts can help prove that the standard of care was not followed.

Having solid evidence is essential to prove your case and hold the responsible parties accountable.

How a Chicago Surgical Error Lawyer Can Help

How a Chicago surgical error lawyer can help

If a surgical error has harmed you, a lawyer can help. They will investigate your case, collect evidence, and fight for your rights. A skilled lawyer will ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Here’s how a lawyer can assist you:

Investigating the Case and Collecting Evidence

A lawyer will start by investigating your case. They will gather all the necessary evidence, such as medical records, witness statements, and accident reports. They might also talk to medical experts who can help explain what went wrong during the surgery. This process is crucial in proving that the surgery was handled incorrectly and that it caused harm.

The lawyer will use this evidence to build a strong case for you and ensure that you are compensated for your medical bills, pain, and suffering.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies and Hospitals

Insurance companies and hospitals often try to pay as little as possible for injuries. A lawyer will work on your behalf to negotiate with them. They will make sure you get fair compensation for your injury, which may include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Without a lawyer, insurance companies may offer you a lower amount than you deserve. Having an experienced lawyer will help ensure you get what you are entitled to.

Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit

If the insurance company or hospital does not offer a fair settlement, a lawyer can file a medical malpractice lawsuit. This legal action will seek compensation for your injuries. The lawyer will handle all the paperwork and legal filings for you. They will work to prove that the surgical error was caused by negligence and that you should be compensated for it.

A lawsuit can help you recover costs for medical treatment, lost wages, and future care needs.

Steps to Take After a Surgical Error in Chicago

  1. Seek medical attention right away: If you believe a surgical error occurred, get medical attention immediately. Early treatment can help reduce the long-term effects of the injury.
  2. Document your injury: Keep track of all medical treatments, appointments, and any symptoms you experience. This information will be important in your case.
  3. Report the incident: If you were injured in a hospital or surgical facility, report the incident to the medical facility. This may help prevent similar errors in the future.
  4. Contact a lawyer: Speak with a lawyer who specializes in surgical errors. They will help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process.
  5. Follow your doctor’s advice: Stick to your treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments to ensure you recover properly. Your recovery is important for your health and your case.

FAQs

Surgical malpractice occurs when a surgeon or medical professional makes a mistake during surgery. This could include errors like performing the wrong surgery, leaving surgical tools inside the body, or causing unnecessary harm. If you are a victim of surgical malpractice, a Chicago surgical error attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Yes, you can file a lawsuit for medical errors that occur during surgery. If a healthcare provider or surgeon made a mistake that caused injury, you might be able to recover compensation. A skilled Chicago surgical error attorney can help you with your case, gathering evidence to prove that the medical errors caused harm.

Surgical errors can lead to many types of injuries, including serious brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, infections, and internal organ damage. These injuries may require long-term medical care, surgeries, or therapy. If you’ve suffered due to surgical malpractice, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

A Chicago surgical error attorney can help by investigating your case, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies. They can also file a medical malpractice lawsuit if necessary. The goal is to ensure that you are fairly compensated for the injuries caused by surgical mistakes, including covering medical expenses and lost income.

If you suspect a surgical error, seek immediate medical attention. Then, contact a lawyer who specializes in surgical malpractice. Your lawyer can help you gather evidence, such as medical records, and guide you through the process of filing a claim. The sooner you act, the stronger your case will be.

Contact Our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Contact our Chicago personal injury lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered from a surgical error, you need help from experienced professionals. At Conboy Law Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers, we specialize in handling surgical malpractice cases. Our legal team has the experience and knowledge to help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Our Chicago medical malpractice lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the legal process. Whether you’ve been injured by a surgical mistake, medical error, or negligence, we’ll ensure that your rights are protected. We can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Don’t wait to get the help you need. Contact us today for a free consultation. Let us help you fight for justice and get the fair compensation you deserve.

Conboy Law - Chicago, IL

Address: 60 W Randolph St. 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60601

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