Common Risks of Surgical Procedures
Most patients anticipate a positive impact after undergoing surgical procedures in Portland. However, surgeries come with risks and possible complications, requiring unsuspecting patients to consider whether a negative outcome is a possible risk realized or the result of a preventable error.
Openly communicating with a surgeon before a medical procedure can help you weigh the benefits and risks of surgery. Contact a Portland surgical error lawyer at Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC when procedural risks like the ones below result in damages to you. Your injuries may be the result of medical negligence.
Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)
Surgical site infections and infections relating to indwelling devices such as respirators are critical concerns for hospital patients. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, these infections account for a significant portion of HAIs. They report that more than one million patients suffer HAIs annually. Furthermore, HAIs may increase the risk of sepsis or septic shock resulting from the body’s improper response to infection.
Severe Blood Loss
While some bleeding occurs during surgery, excessive blood loss or hemorrhaging may produce a significant blood pressure drop, the need for a blood transfusion, or shock. In worst-case scenarios, death may occur. Determining how a surgery will be performed can shed light on its potential risks. One type of surgery that may create the potential risk for severe blood loss is a hysterectomy.
Reactions to Anesthesia
Performing many surgeries requires the use of anesthesia to render muscles partially paralyzed. Breathing tubes used with anesthesia are commonly associated with mild risks of nausea or sore throat. More severe side effects resulting from anesthesia may include aspiration occurring when a patient inhales surgical fluids or foods after vomiting, which can cause pneumonia. Speaking with a Portland anesthesia error lawyer can help determine if your injuries are associated with risk or result from an anesthesia error.
Nerve Damage
Surgical procedures may impact the nervous system, causing numbness, chronic nerve pain, or paralysis. Minor nerve damage often corrects itself over time and may be a common risk with specific surgical procedures. If you experience severe nerve damage, speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
When to Contact Portland Surgical Error Attorney
An undesired consequence following a surgical procedure may result from a potential risk associated with the type of surgery. Discussing any significant medical outcome with a Portland medical malpractice attorney is critical to determining if negligence is the cause of your injuries. Waiting to contact an attorney may result in losing crucial documentation about your injuries.
How a Surgical Error Lawyer in Portland Can Help
The role of a surgical error attorney is to demonstrate that a surgeon, medical team, or hospital’s actions were outside of the standard of care typically used in similar surgical procedures. With the available proof, we use the evidence necessary to file a legal action for medical malpractice in Portland. Because obtaining evidence in these cases can be challenging, working with our team may eliminate the struggle to obtain documentation that is not readily available.
Speak With an Experienced Pacific Northwest Medical Malpractice Team
Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC provides relentless support to clients suffering severe injuries due to medical negligence. Our team offers compassionate support throughout the legal process if a medical procedure results in the death of a loved one. Schedule a consultation today to discuss the outcome of a Portland medical procedure.