Recovering from surgery is a critical phase that demands meticulous attention and care. While most patients expect to leave the hospital healthier than they arrived, poor post-operative care can jeopardize their recovery and lead to severe complications. In some unfortunate cases, inadequate follow-up treatment and negligent care can result in lasting harm or even death, paving the way for medical malpractice claims.
Post-operative care is a vital part of the recovery process, and when it falls short, the consequences can be severe. At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP, we understand the profound impact that poor post-op care can have on patients. You may be eligible for compensation if you’re concerned about your care and considering legal action for medical malpractice. We have extensive experience handling medical malpractice claims and a long track record of bringing our clients the results they need. Contact us if you are interested in taking legal action and receiving compensation.
Is It Possible for Healthcare Professionals to Cause Medical Malpractice Post-Op?
When it comes to medical treatment and surgical operations, discovering and diagnosing an issue is only half the battle. Most of the time, it is not the symptoms that the patient fears but rather the treatment.
In many cases of serious injury or illness, an operation may be performed to prevent further complications and hopefully cure a patient. However, it isn’t always the surgical process that may cause a patient more damage and worry, but rather the post-op care.
The Role of Duty of Care in a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
Post-op care, or post-operative treatment, is usually very strict and diligent in order to streamline a patient’s recovery process. After surgery, a patient has to undergo special treatment for incisions, system function regulation, and general care before they can begin seeing normal aspects of their well-being again.
If these standards of care for post-operative procedures aren’t met, a patient could suffer further complications and file a claim against the surgeon, nursing staff, and hospital for medical malpractice.
Potential Risks of Poor Medical Attention
From changing bedpans to cleaning wounds, properly inspecting the body for bed sores, and even adequately administering post-operative physical or occupational treatment, there are many different ways in which overlooking a step can lead to serious complications or prolonged recovery.
A personal injury law firm such as ours would never allow for the horrid act of post-operative negligence towards one of our clients to go unanswered. If you’ve been the victim of prominent medical malpractice, whether on a routine checkup or an extensive surgery, contact the law offices of Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP today to speak with a qualified attorney about what we can do for you.
Common Causes of Medical Malpractice in Post-Operative Care
Many different types of post-op fallacies could land a patient in more pain and worry than they may have initially been in before the surgery.
Improper Incision Care
One of the most common errors in after-surgery care is the lack of proper treatment for incisions and healing wounds. Whether they are stitched up, sewn together, stapled closed, or simply folded over until further operation, it is undeniably important that these vulnerable operation sites on a patient’s body are kept completely clean and sterile.
Risk of Infection in Hospitals
The risk of infection in a hospital is already very high due to the fact that hundreds of different pathogens and contaminants are all hosted within the same building. This risk is then multiplied significantly when an open wound is not attended to properly and a patient is left in their hospital bed to await the correct aftercare treatment.
Lack of Attention to Vitals
Another common mistake frequently made in post-operative hospital rooms is inattentiveness to vitals and post-op evaluations.
After an invasive surgery or extensive internal procedure, there will most likely have been some serious altercations to the state of a patient’s body. These changes can have numerous effects on their well-being as a whole, and if warning signs aren’t caught quickly enough, these effects could be severely damaging and nearly life-threatening. This is why many hospitals require a borderline militant routine of checking heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels and following up with questions regarding a patient’s overall feeling.
Even though a patient may feel fine and on their way to regaining their well-being, there could be a serious problem developing inside them due to a surgical effect or even an overlooked surgical error.
Should a nurse or doctor begin to ignore or overlook certain vital signs when checking on post-op patients, their carelessness might lead to complications that will cost the patient more time, money, and peace of mind.
Staffing Issues
Aftercare in a hospital is just as big a part of a patient’s overall procedure as the actual surgery. It needs to be accurate, precise, and double-checked. Failing to provide adequate care could cause major issues if even the slightest thing is forgotten or ignored. That is why medical professionals and specialist nurses train for years to be experienced and prepared for any and all treatments and post-operation requirements that fall on their chart.
Medical malpractice is a serious issue in many hospitals with a significant patient turnover rate. High traffic and a large number of operations and procedures that are trying to quickly recover patients to keep the beds in rotation can inevitably lead to careless mistakes such as surgical errors, negligent care, and even bedside fatalities as a result of poor operation aftercare.
Hospitals Owe Patients Proper Attention and Care
Just because hospitals are so large and see such a vast number of patients throughout the day does not mean that one patient’s care, whether pre-op or post-op, should mean any more or less than another’s. Often, medical malpractice claims can point to signs of slipping performance in a nursing staff due to exhaustion or workplace complacency.
When these professionals are no longer alert and conscious of their tasks, mistakes can be made in a matter of minutes. These mistakes can sadly cost patients their safety, security, and confidence in the treatment they are paying large amounts of money for.
What Should You Do as a Patient After Medical Malpractice?
If you are a patient or have a family member or loved one undergoing post-operative treatment in a hospital, it is important to be aware of all the treatment you are entitled to and what you are receiving.
Many times, patients can be overwhelmed with the actual surgery or coping with medical news they have been informed of. As a result, patients can become unaware of some of the errors and aftercare failures that are taking place. This is why keeping a close eye on the patient’s chart is very important, as is talking thoroughly with every doctor who visits you.
It is also not uncommon for the surgeon who operated on you to make a personal visit to discuss the procedures that took place and the current state after the surgery. Asking questions and getting thorough explanations is a great way to keep both yourself and the staff informed and on their toes to avoid further possible complications with your well-being that could land them in a serious medical malpractice suit.
However, just because we encourage you to speak with your medical team does not mean you are somehow responsible for the medical malpractice you’ve been subjected to. We only aim to help you feel more prepared in the future and reduce the odds of preventable complications. If you have any questions about how you can communicate with your medical team to prevent medical malpractice, feel free to reach out to Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP.
Steps and Strategies Patients Should Take After Medical Malpractice
Whether you have been subjected to a surgical error, permanent injuries, organ failure, or a similar situation where your medical team should have treated you with better care, you are not alone. Your medical providers should always provide competent care, from adequate prescription of medications, appropriate use of anesthesia, best practices in procedures, appropriate treatment, and much more.
Following a case of medical malpractice, you may not know what steps to take next. But we can help you make well-calculated steps and utilize strong strategies. We encourage you to use the following recommendations:
- Seek medical attention from another provider as soon as possible
- Follow your new medical team’s recommendations for care as closely as you can
- Stay offline and log out of social media accounts
- Avoid discussing legal matters with others – including friends, family, and strangers – except for an experienced lawyer
- Collect and organize evidence related to your claim
- Share minimal information with insurance companies and other parties
- Refrain from accepting settlement offers without help from an attorney
- Follow your medical malpractice lawyer’s recommendations for next steps
While seeing another doctor may be scary, especially after losing trust due to medical malpractice, we encourage you to seek medical care. We can help you find a provider willing to work with you during legal matters, either by exploring your options with other medical professionals or by referring you to doctors we trust.
We also encourage you to retain support from our team as soon as possible. When you work with a medical malpractice attorney from Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP, we can provide additional next steps. We pride ourselves on understanding our clients’ precise and unique needs, and we can use this information to support you through the legal process. Feel free to contact us at your convenience to learn more and gain invaluable support.
Victim of Medical Malpractice During Post-Op Care? A Medical Malpractice Lawyer from Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP Can Help
If you have been subjected to poor post-operative care, it’s crucial to understand your legal rights and options. At Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP, we are committed to helping you seek justice and compensation for any harm caused by medical negligence. We know medical practitioners should provide excellent patient care, and we want to stand by your side during your claim.
Our dedicated team is here to guide you through the complexities of a medical malpractice case and ensure that your voice is heard. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. You can reach Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson LLP by calling (512) 454-3751 or completing our contact form.
