Surgical Malpractice

Hundreds of patients who were concerned about possibly being exposed to the virus that causes AIDS visited a health clinic to learn whether or not they were affected.  Letters began being sent out the day before to some 7,000 of the accused dentist’s patients.  As reported by the Associated Press and published in USA Today, the letters warned those who had been patients of the accused dentist over the past six years of the public health hazard caused by alleged poor hygiene at the oral surgeon’s clinics.

The screening for hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and for the virus that causes AIDS began, and according to the Tulsa Health Department, 420 former patients were tested.  Testing was to resume on Monday.

One former patient said that you believe in doctors and trust them to follow the rules.  Her trust has been betrayed.  Five months ago she had a tooth extraction at one of the surgeon’s two clinics.

The Oklahoma State Board of Dentistry has filed a 17-count complaint against the doctor, and a hearing is pending for April 19, 2013.  Some of the problems encountered in the clinics include the following:

• After being used on patients, needles were inserted back into drug vials.
• The doctor allowed dental assistants to administer sedatives.
• A medicine cabinet contained expired medications.

One patient has said that a nurse inserted the IV to deliver his anesthesia.  He did not even meet the surgeon until after two wisdom teeth extractions had been performed by others.

The Omaha attorneys who are also doctors at Cullan & Cullan have a proven record of success in medical malpractice cases.  We have all the resources and training necessary to protect the rights of those who have been harmed due to medical malpractice.  We welcome your calls about medical malpractice cases.  Call us at (402) 397-7600.  We represent clients nationwide.

Medical malpractice is the cause of approximately 225,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, making the negligence of healthcare providers the third highest leading cause of death in the nation. There are a number of different types of medical malpractice that can cause a patient harm, but surgical malpractice is a factor in an alarming amount of death and permanent injury cases. Surgical malpractice is the failure of a surgeon to provide adequate treatment to patients and exercise the same degree of skill and care that another surgeon of the same medical specialty would use under similar circumstances.

The failure to provide appropriate care can result in serious injury, or even death, to a patient.

Negligent surgical errors can occur at anytime, whether it is during a noninvasive outpatient surgery or an emergency surgery where time is of the essence. Depending on the type of surgery, the injury to a patient can be severe. The following are some examples of surgical negligence:

• Using unsanitary medical equipment;
• Delaying, or prolonging, operation time;
• Leaving medical equipment inside the patient;
• Operating on the wrong part of the body;
• Puncturing or slicing an organ; and
• Removing too much tissue, muscle, etc. during the surgery.

Similar to any other medical professional, surgeons are obligated to provide the highest level of care to each patient during every procedure. If a surgeon does not, the results can be devastating for an innocent patient. The surgical malpractice attorneys in Nebraska of Cullan & Cullan, LLC are also physicians and have a great understanding of the impact a medical mistake can have on a person’s health. Our legal team has the resources needed to show that the surgical mistake was the sole cause of your injuries in order to obtain a successful settlement.

To see how we can assist you with your potential claim, please call (402) 397-7600.

With millions of people each year in the U.S. requiring medical assistance, it is imperative that members of the medical community provide the highest level of care to patients. However, serious mistakes made by healthcare professionals that can endanger the life of a patient occur frequently, whether it is in the emergency room or the exam room; when this occurs, injured patients have the right to file a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice results in an alarming 225,000 deaths each year in the U.S., making it the third leading cause of death in the nation. One very serious type of medical malpractice in Omaha and throughout the nation is surgical malpractice.

Surgical malpractice is the failure of a surgeon to provide adequate treatment to patients, which can result in personal injury and/or a substantial loss of income. Essentially, surgical malpractice occurs when a surgeon fails to exercise the degree of skill and care that a surgeon of the same medical specialty would use under like circumstances. Thus, when medical standards aren’t followed and ample care is not given, a malpractice case may follow. This failure on part of the surgeon is often caused by factors such as fatigue, lapses in judgment, or performing the surgery too quickly.

According to Medscape.com, a majority of surgical malpractice claims fall into two groups: improper performance (41.8 percent) and “not otherwise classified,” which includes unnecessary procedure, failure or lack of informed consent, wrong body part, and retained foreign body. The data also reveals that surgical errors resulted in a variety of health problems for patients, such as permanent and temporary injuries, brain damage, lifelong care, and emotional injury.

If it is determined a patient suffered undue injury because of negligent surgical care, damages may be sought for things such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, or lost income.

The Nebraska surgical malpractice lawyers of Cullan & Cullan, LLC have the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain a successful settlement for surgical malpractice victims. As physicians, we understand how detrimental any act of medical negligence can be to the well-being of a patient and will work diligently to get the compensation you need to recover. For a comprehensive case evaluation, please call our offices at (402) 397-7600.