Medical Malpractice and Post-Operative Care
Medical Malpractice Overview
The National Center for Health Statistics reported that over 48 million inpatient surgical operations were conducted throughout the U.S. in 2009. All surgical operations carry a risk, but oftentimes surgery is necessary for a patient’s physical well-being.
Below we’ll get into details about what postoperative care is, how errors happen and what patients can do if they’re injured.
What is Postoperative Care?
After your surgery, you’ll need time to recover. You’ll also still need medical care until you are well again. This temporary recovery period is usually called post-operative care. All medical professionals are aware of postoperative care procedures. Here are a few of the necessary post-operative care procedures outlined by the World Health Organization:
- Monitoring the patient’s vital signs
- Evaluating the patient’s level of pain
- Checking the patient’s urine and gastrointestinal fluid output
- Monitoring the type and rate of intravenous fluid
- Checking for common complications
After surgery, you should never be released from the hospital until you are cleared by a medical professional.
Common Types of Postoperative Nursing Errors
Discomfort, pain and other undesirable side-effects are often present after surgery. Patients may experience thirst, nausea, sore throat or constipation. At other times, however, serious complications from surgery can occur. Here are the most common and serious types of complications to watch for post-surgery:
- Shock (drop in blood pressure)
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Lung problems
- Pulmonary embolism
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Negative reactions to anesthesia
- Urinary retention
Doctors and medical staff are well-educated about these potential complications, so they should always monitor the patient for signs and symptoms of these conditions after surgery. Failing to do so could lead to a medical malpractice claim.
Medical Malpractice Claims
If negligence led to a post-operative injury, then you should consider your legal options. A post-operative injury could lead to a longer recovery time, physical injuries, increased medical bills and more time away from work and other obligations. These financial losses can be recovered in court through a medical malpractice lawsuit. It may be necessary to enlist the help of an expert medical witness to prove that your injury was the result of negligence and not just a complication from the surgery.
Contact a Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Medical Error Case in Pennsylvania
Were you or a loved one injured due to medical malpractice in Pennsylvania? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Pittsburgh medical error attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, Erie, Butler, Cranberry Township, Indiana. Call us today at (412) 471-4300 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 310 Grant Street, Suite 720, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.