Punctures or Lacerations During Surgery

Any surgery comes with risks, however surgeons have been impeccably trained and have spent many years of their lives studying to prepare them for the numerous intricacies which exist when operating within the human body. Accidental punctures or lacerations of muscle, tissue and organs occur every day, and such an accident can have a life-altering effect or cause you to undergo even more surgery. In such an instance, you should contact one of Altman & Altman LLP’s experienced, Boston-based medical malpractice attorneys.

Some lacerations and punctures can be corrected immediately during the same surgeries, and the patient will be unaffected entirely. However some punctures and lacerations may cause more serious damage, especially if a nerve or other vital piece of connective tissue is nicked or cut during a procedure. Such accidents may cause permanent damage or debilitation, resulting in long-term pain and suffering.

One study referenced by the National Center for Biotechnology Information reported that, of approximately 3,000 studied operations involving the rectum, 9.2 percent had an accidental puncture or laceration. In these instances, it is likely the patient will have to receive additional surgery to correct the laceration or puncture, meaning more medical bills and health risks to the patient.

At their worst, accidental lacerations and punctures may cause life-threatening complications in patients, including septic shock if a bowel is punctured and results in waste infecting the blood stream. In other cases, internal bleeding may happen so quickly that a patient goes into shock or suddenly loses consciousness. Such instances can place a large burden on the heart and result in a wrongful death.

Proving Negligence

As with any case of medical malpractice, the patient or the patient’s family must be able to prove that a hospital, doctor or medical staff was negligent in its responsibility to reasonably reduce the risk of injury or death the patient. This responsibility is a heavy burden to carry, but surgeons must be held to a high standard, given the unforgiving nature of their profession.

If you feel as though you were treated poorly or were put at undue risk by a surgical staff at a hospital during a procedure, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney at Altman & Altman LLP today. We have over 50 years of experience in holding doctors and hospitals responsible for preventable errors, and we will advocate on your behalf just as we have done for many others in the Boston, Cambridge and surrounding Massachusetts area.

A mistake in surgery can result in a much longer hospital stay than you originally intended, causing you to miss more time from work than anticipated – in addition to the increased medical expenses of staying in a hospital. You may also be prone to infections if an internal wound is severe enough, which can carry with it an entire other list of risks and complications.

If the mistake was egregious, or if a loved one passed away from a preventable mistake made during surgery, we will pursue every possible legal avenue to secure you a sizable settlement to compensate for the medical expenses or costs of a funeral and burial, or to make up for money that was lost due to being unable to work and collect a normal paycheck.

At Altman & Altman, we understand how upsetting errors in surgery can be, and we understand how important your time is. We will be there with you every step of the way as you file a claim, track its status and find out the results. We guarantee a high level of professionalism and support during your most trying times.

Call us for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7.