When you undergo surgery, you trust your healthcare providers to perform your procedure safely and according to accepted medical standards. Unfortunately, mistakes can occur in the operating room, leaving patients with serious injuries and financial losses. After experiencing harm at the hands of a medical professional, speaking with our medical malpractice lawyers in Harrisburg can help you understand your legal rights under Pennsylvania law.
When Does a Surgical Error Become Medical Malpractice?
Not every unsuccessful surgery qualifies as medical malpractice. Many procedures involve known risks, and complications may occur even when healthcare providers follow the accepted standard of care.
However, a surgical error may lead to a malpractice claim when a surgeon, hospital, anesthesiologist, nurse, or another healthcare provider fails to provide treatment that meets the accepted medical standard and that failure directly causes injury to the patient. Examples include:
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Operating on the wrong body part or the wrong patient
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Leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the patient
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Damaging nearby organs, nerves, or blood vessels because proper surgical techniques were not followed
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Administering improper anesthesia or failing to monitor the patient during surgery
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Failing to recognize or treat excessive bleeding or other surgical complications before the patient leaves the operating room
It can be difficult to understand if you were the victim of medical malpractice or whether the injuries you suffered were the result of a known surgical risk. Each case depends on its unique facts. Our attorneys can listen to the details of your situation and evaluate the evidence involved to help you understand your legal rights and options for financial recovery.
How Surgical Errors Can Affect Your Life
A preventable surgical mistake can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Some patients require additional surgeries to repair the damage, while others experience permanent disabilities, chronic pain, infections, or extended rehabilitation. Many are also unable to return to work while they recover, creating additional financial hardship for themselves and their families.
It is easy to fall into substantial financial debt after experiencing an injury, making it vital to file your case as early as possible.
Building a successful malpractice claim requires more than showing that an injury occurred. It is necessary to establish that the healthcare provider breached the accepted standard of care and that the breach directly caused the patient’s injuries. The team at Marzella & Associates works to develop strong cases on behalf of all of our clients.
Trust Our Medical Malpractice Attorneys in Harrisburg to Fight for the Compensation You Deserve
After suffering harm at the hands of your medical team, you should not delay seeking legal guidance. Pennsylvania law places time limits on filing medical malpractice claims, and important evidence may become more difficult to obtain as time passes. At Marzella & Associates, our lawyers are committed to protecting the rights of injured patients and pursuing the compensation they deserve.
Contact our team today online or by calling 717-234-7828 to speak with a Harrisburg medical malpractice lawyer about your potential claim. We offer free consultations to residents of Harrisburg, Hanover, Lancaster, and surrounding areas throughout Pennsylvania.