Medical Malpractice Including Surgical Errors and Surgery Mistakes in Hospitals and Doctors Offices
April 30, 2012 By The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
Every year approximately 225,000 people in the United States die from medical malpractice, making it the third leading cause of death after heart attacks and cancer. Many people are seriously injured or die each year from not only major operations but elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery and bariatric surgery. Surgical errors and surgical malpractice is a terrifying prospect for any patient to experience.
Most people are already afraid of surgery, but to think that a mistake made in surgery can lead to a serious injury or death is a frightening thought. Every year approximately 225,000 people in the United States die from medical malpractice, making it the third leading cause of death after heart attacks and cancer. In addition, many thousands of people are also injured from medical negligence; and the medical community does not know how many cases of injuries were never even reported, making medical malpractice a serious issue in this country.
Most people believe that only serious operations, including those conducted in the emergency rooms cause serious injuries or death to the patients. Many people incorrectly believe that cosmetic surgery is completely safe, since everywhere you look, from magazines to television shows to the people around you, you will see examples of plastic surgery in society. However, it is important to understand that many people are seriously injured or die each year from elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery and bariatric surgery. Any surgery, from a serious operation to elective plastic surgery carries with it a risk for serious injury or even death. Cosmetic surgery includes breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts, and rhinoplasty (nose-job). Bariatric surgery includes gastric bypass surgery, lap band, and stomach stapling.
Most people also incorrectly believe that only inexperienced surgeons and doctors, or surgeons new to the field make surgical errors. They may believe that a high priced surgeon, even one who operates on wealthy clients or celebrities does not make mistakes. In fact, even the most respected and skillful surgeons make mistakes that lead to serious injuries or death to their patients.
Medical malpractice, including surgical errors occur frequently in hospitals. Medical mistakes can happen when there is a shortage of medical staff, an overworked staff, or improperly trained members of staff. When medical staff fail to properly communicate with each other, serious injuries can occur to the patient as well. An example of a shortage of medical staff can include a situation where a patient is in serious need of an operation but the surgeons are not available because they are working on other patients. The patient who is kept waiting too long can see their condition escalate from serious to critical. Another example involves emergency waiting rooms where patients are often kept waiting for hours before they can see a nurse; even longer to see a doctor.
Medical clinics, cosmetic clinics, and doctors offices carry an even greater risk for serious injuries to patients than hospitals. The reason being that doctors offices and other medical facilities usually do not have access to a fully trained staff of medical experts and resources that hospitals have available, including board certified anesthesiologists, critical care nurses, specialized surgeons or high end medical equipment necessary for any type of emergency that may arise. If a serious emergency occurs, the patient may be kept waiting many agonizing minutes for an ambulance to arrive to transport him or her to a hospital. Every minute the patient is kept waiting can cause the patient's medical situation to escalate, even leading to death.
If you or someone you love has been injured or died from medical negligence, including suffering serious injuries from a surgical error, contact the Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates at (800) 541-9376 for a free legal consultation. Dr. Bruce Fagel is an experienced medical malpractice attorney and a licensed medical doctor. In fact, Dr. Fagel practiced emergency room medicine for over 10 years before becoming an attorney, so he understands exactly how hospitals and medical facilities should function, and where medical malpractice took place that may have caused your injuries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Bruce Fagel
Dr. Fagel is an attorney and physician who represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases against doctors and hospitals exclusively on behalf of injured patients. His practice focuses on complex medical malpractice cases resulting in catastrophic injuries caused by doctor or hospital negligence, such as birth or brain damage, induced hypertension, wrongful death, cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, nursing home negligence, misdiagnosis of cancer and paraplegia cases.
Dr. Fagel graduated from the University Of Illinois Medical College Of Medicine, M.D., 1972. He earned his law degree at Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, J.D., 1982.
Copyright The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
More information about The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
Most people believe that only serious operations, including those conducted in the emergency rooms cause serious injuries or death to the patients. Many people incorrectly believe that cosmetic surgery is completely safe, since everywhere you look, from magazines to television shows to the people around you, you will see examples of plastic surgery in society. However, it is important to understand that many people are seriously injured or die each year from elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery and bariatric surgery. Any surgery, from a serious operation to elective plastic surgery carries with it a risk for serious injury or even death. Cosmetic surgery includes breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts, and rhinoplasty (nose-job). Bariatric surgery includes gastric bypass surgery, lap band, and stomach stapling.
Most people also incorrectly believe that only inexperienced surgeons and doctors, or surgeons new to the field make surgical errors. They may believe that a high priced surgeon, even one who operates on wealthy clients or celebrities does not make mistakes. In fact, even the most respected and skillful surgeons make mistakes that lead to serious injuries or death to their patients.
Medical malpractice, including surgical errors occur frequently in hospitals. Medical mistakes can happen when there is a shortage of medical staff, an overworked staff, or improperly trained members of staff. When medical staff fail to properly communicate with each other, serious injuries can occur to the patient as well. An example of a shortage of medical staff can include a situation where a patient is in serious need of an operation but the surgeons are not available because they are working on other patients. The patient who is kept waiting too long can see their condition escalate from serious to critical. Another example involves emergency waiting rooms where patients are often kept waiting for hours before they can see a nurse; even longer to see a doctor.
Medical clinics, cosmetic clinics, and doctors offices carry an even greater risk for serious injuries to patients than hospitals. The reason being that doctors offices and other medical facilities usually do not have access to a fully trained staff of medical experts and resources that hospitals have available, including board certified anesthesiologists, critical care nurses, specialized surgeons or high end medical equipment necessary for any type of emergency that may arise. If a serious emergency occurs, the patient may be kept waiting many agonizing minutes for an ambulance to arrive to transport him or her to a hospital. Every minute the patient is kept waiting can cause the patient's medical situation to escalate, even leading to death.
If you or someone you love has been injured or died from medical negligence, including suffering serious injuries from a surgical error, contact the Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates at (800) 541-9376 for a free legal consultation. Dr. Bruce Fagel is an experienced medical malpractice attorney and a licensed medical doctor. In fact, Dr. Fagel practiced emergency room medicine for over 10 years before becoming an attorney, so he understands exactly how hospitals and medical facilities should function, and where medical malpractice took place that may have caused your injuries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Bruce Fagel
Dr. Fagel is an attorney and physician who represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases against doctors and hospitals exclusively on behalf of injured patients. His practice focuses on complex medical malpractice cases resulting in catastrophic injuries caused by doctor or hospital negligence, such as birth or brain damage, induced hypertension, wrongful death, cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, nursing home negligence, misdiagnosis of cancer and paraplegia cases.
Dr. Fagel graduated from the University Of Illinois Medical College Of Medicine, M.D., 1972. He earned his law degree at Whittier College School of Law, Los Angeles, CA, J.D., 1982.
Copyright The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
More information about The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
View all articles published by The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce Fagel
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
