San Antonio Surgical Error Lawyers

Surgery Error Cases in Texas

Often referred to as “never events” because they should simply never occur, surgical errors are often the result of medical negligence. Sadly, when surgeons and other medical providers are careless or make mistakes, patients can suffer severe bodily injury, permanent disability, and even death.

If you were injured or someone you love died due to a surgical error, you may be entitled to financial compensation—and Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C. can help. Our team of San Antonio surgical error attorneys is well-equipped to handle complex medical malpractice cases, including those involving wrong-site surgery, wrong-patient surgery, and other surgery mistake claims in Texas.

Our Surgical Malpractice Case Results

• $2,845,730: Surgical errors resulting in drop foot
• $1,600,000: Negligence during back surgery resulting in paralysis
• $933,022: Retained foreign object causing cardiac rupture
• $430,000: Retained foreign object requiring emergency surgery

For award-winning representation, contact Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C. online or call our office at (210) 361-2997 today. We offer no-obligation, confidential consultations.

On This Page:

• Examples of Common Surgical Errors
• Injuries Resulting from Surgical Malpractice
• Who Is Liable for Surgery Mistakes?
• Answers to Common Questions

Surgical Errors and Medical Malpractice

It can be hard to imagine a highly trained surgeon making a seemingly avoidable mistake, but surgical errors are shockingly common in the United States. If you or a loved one is the victim of this type of medical malpractice, you already know the immense impact surgical errors can have on the lives of patients and their families. At Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C., we believe that you deserve justice, regardless of the kind of surgical error you or your loved one suffered.

Examples of Common Surgical Errors

Some examples of common surgical errors include:

• Wrong-site surgery: These types of surgical errors occur when the surgeon operates on the wrong part of the body. For example, operating on the wrong organ or limb would be an example of wrong-site surgery.
• Wrong-patient surgery: Though rare, wrong-patient surgery can and does happen. This occurs when a surgical team operates on the wrong patient or performs the wrong operation (intended for someone else) on a patient.
• Anesthesia/sedation errors: Common anesthesia/sedation errors include administering too much or too little anesthesia, as well as administering anesthesia to the wrong patient or a patient who is allergic to anesthesia.
• Left-behind objects: These errors occur when a surgeon or member of the surgical team leaves behind medical instruments and other objects in a patient’s body after surgery. This often leads to life-threatening complications and infections.
• Damage to healthy organs: Sometimes, surgeons may accidentally damage healthy organs and structures inside a patient’s body during surgery. This can have serious implications for the patient, leading to severe injury and/or illness.
• Failure to monitor: During surgery, the patient should be constantly monitored for signs of complications or poor reactions. When the surgical team fails to monitor (or address) the patient’s vital signs, the consequences can be serious.
• C-section errors: Cesarean section (C-section) errors, including failure to order an emergency C-section, can have devastating consequences for both mothers and infants, leading to life-altering or even deadly birth injuries.

These and other surgical errors happen for a variety of reasons, from poor communication between individuals and departments to failure to review a patient’s medical history prior to surgery. If you believe you or your loved one suffered a surgical error due to medical negligence, do not hesitate to reach out to our firm to learn how we can help.

Common Injuries Resulting from Surgical Malpractice

Catastrophic injuries resulting from surgical malpractice can have devastating and life-altering consequences for patients. These injuries often involve severe and permanent impairment or disability.

Examples of serious injuries that may result from surgical malpractice include:

• Brain damage: Surgical errors such as anesthesia complications, inadequate oxygenation, or hemorrhage during surgery can lead to brain damage. Brain injuries may result in cognitive impairments, motor deficits, paralysis, seizures, and other neurological symptoms, depending on the extent and location of the damage.
• Spinal cord injuries: Surgical errors during spinal surgery or other procedures involving the spine can result in spinal cord injuries. Damage to the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, bowel and bladder dysfunction, and other debilitating symptoms, depending on the level and severity of the injury.
• Amputations: Surgical errors such as improper surgical technique, inadequate blood flow, or infection may necessitate amputation of limbs or extremities. Amputations can have profound physical, psychological, and emotional effects on patients, impacting their mobility, independence, and quality of life.
• Internal organ damage: Surgical errors such as inadvertent cuts, punctures, or lacerations to internal organs or blood vessels can cause severe internal bleeding, organ dysfunction, or other complications. Damage to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys can be life-threatening and may require additional surgery.
• Loss of vision or hearing: Surgical errors involving procedures near the eyes or ears can result in permanent vision or hearing loss. Damage to the optic nerve, retina, or auditory structures during surgery can lead to partial or complete loss of vision or hearing, impairing sensory function and affecting daily activities.
• Severe infections: Surgical site infections (SSIs) resulting from surgical malpractice can lead to severe infections that spread to surrounding tissues, organs, or the bloodstream. Severe infections can cause sepsis, septic shock, organ failure, and death if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
• Systemic complications: Surgical malpractice can lead to systemic complications such as sepsis, organ failure, or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). These complications can be life-threatening and may require intensive medical treatment, including surgery, antibiotics, and supportive care in the ICU.

These examples illustrate the severe and life-altering consequences that can result from surgical malpractice. If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries due to surgical errors, it's essential to consult with our attorneys to discuss your legal options for pursuing compensation and holding the responsible parties accountable.

Who Is Liable for Surgery Mistakes?

Liability in surgical error cases is critical yet complex. In order to bring a claim, you must first prove that a medical provider failed to uphold the acceptable standard of care. This means that you must prove that your surgeon or a member of the surgical team acted or failed to act in a manner consistent with what one could reasonably have expected another qualified medical provider to have done.

One thing that makes the issue of liability in surgical error cases so complex, however, is that surgeons may be either independent contractors or employees of hospitals/healthcare institutions. When they are the latter, injured patients or the surviving loved ones of those wrongfully killed may be able to bring a hospital malpractice claim against the institution that employs the negligent surgeon (or another medical provider).

At Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C., we understand the many unique nuances involved in surgical error cases. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing injured patients and their families; we know how to take on negligent medical providers, institutions, and their defense teams.

Often, our attorneys investigate whether a hospital followed negligent hiring practices or failed to appropriately take measures against a provider who previously failed to uphold an acceptable standard of care. In this way, we are often able to uncover previously unseen avenues of compensation for our clients, allowing us to effectively advocate for the maximum compensation they are owed.

Get Answers to Your Questions

If My Loved One Died, Should I Get an Autopsy?

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

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Contact Us Today for a Consultation

If you or someone you love suffered because of a surgeon, anesthesiologist, or another medical provider’s negligence, Maloney Law Group, P.L.L.C. is ready to help. We offer initial consultations, both in person and by phone, to all new and prospective clients. If you would like to discuss your case with a member of our award-winning legal team, please get in touch with us today.

Submit an online case evaluation form or call (210) 361-2997 to get started.