Michigan Surgery Error Lawyers

Suffered an Injury Because of a Surgical Error? We Can Help!

When you visit the hospital for a surgical procedure, it can be extremely overwhelming. In effect, you are trusting your body, future, and life to someone else and hoping that their knowledge of the human body will help you recover from a serious condition or injury. Although most surgeons are highly capable, trained professionals with a passion for helping patients, surgeons and surgical team members are still human – and they can make life-altering mistakes.

While positive outcomes are never guaranteed during a high-risk or untested surgical procedure, surgeons still have a basic responsibility to uphold the standard of care with their patients. From horrifying wrong-site surgeries to painful anesthesia errors, these surgical mistakes may take a heavy toll on both your peace of mind and your physical wellbeing.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a wrong-site surgery or another surgical mistake, you will likely need the help of an experienced attorney to hold the doctor accountable. Grewal Law PLLC has been helping victims of medical malpractice for decades. Our surgery error lawyers in Michigan can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the justice and compensation you are owed.

Who is Liable for Surgery Errors?

Determining liability for a surgical error can be complex and may involve multiple parties depending on the circumstances surrounding the error. Here are some key parties who may be held liable for surgical errors:

• Surgeon
• Surgical team
• Hospital or medical facility
• Manufacturers of medical devices and equipment:
• Anesthesia providers
• Pathologists and laboratory staff:
• Administrative staff and hospital management

Examples of Surgical Errors

A surgical error refers to a mistake made by medical professionals during a surgical procedure. These errors can vary in severity and can have serious consequences for patients. Some common types of surgical errors include:

• Foreign objects/instruments left in the body: This occurs when surgical tools, sponges, or other foreign objects are inadvertently left inside the patient's body after surgery. This can lead to infections, pain, and other complications.
• Wrong-site surgery: This occurs when surgery is performed on the wrong part of the body. For example, operating on the left knee when the right knee was supposed to be operated on.
• Wrong-patient surgery: This happens when a surgical procedure is performed on the wrong patient. It could occur due to administrative errors or miscommunication between medical staff.
• Wrong procedure: This error involves performing the incorrect surgical procedure on a patient. For instance, if a patient is scheduled for a knee replacement surgery but receives a hip replacement instead.
• Nerve damage: Nerve damage can occur during surgery due to surgical instruments inadvertently damaging nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness, weakness, or loss of function in affected areas.
• Issues with anesthesia: Anesthesia errors can include administering too much or too little anesthesia, using the wrong type of anesthesia, or failing to monitor the patient's response to anesthesia properly.
• Infection: Surgical site infections can occur due to inadequate sterilization procedures, improper wound care, or contaminated surgical equipment. These infections can prolong recovery time and lead to further complications.
• Bleeding: Excessive bleeding during or after surgery can occur due to surgical errors such as nicking a blood vessel or improper suturing techniques. This can result in the need for additional procedures to control the bleeding and can lead to complications such as anemia or hypovolemic shock.

While surgical mistakes are relatively rare, it’s estimated that there are over 4,000 preventable surgery errors in the U.S. every year. Most hospitals are required to classify these as “never events”; in other words, they should never happen. The only reason these types of errors occur is because of medical negligence.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a surgical error in Michigan, don't hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you through this difficult time and offer the legal guidance you need to hold negligent parties accountable.

Contact us online or at (888) 211-5798 for a free consultation. With three office locations, we serve clients throughout Michigan.