Wrong Site Surgery

It is every surgery patient’s worst nightmare. Going to sleep and waking up to discover that the wrong body part has been operated on. While this may seem like an event that should never occur when considering the sophistication of modern medicine, the sad reality is that it does, often leaving patients with irreversible problems and medical issues.

A best case scenario for wrong site surgery is that a surgeon starts a procedure, realizes the error, and stitches the patient up. Even in this case, victims can be left with permanent scars, completely unnecessary pain and suffering, lost income, and still in need of a serious surgical procedure. In a worst case scenario, a patient wakes up only to discover that a surgeon amputated the wrong limb or caused some other form of irreversible and horrific injury.

Medical malpractice law entitles people who are victimized by the negligence of medical professionals to recover for their injuries. It is hard to imagine a scenario in which surgery on the wrong body part would not be the result of negligence, so it is very likely that people who are affected by these kinds of medical errors will be able to recover compensation for their losses. Some examples of damages that are often successful sought in Missouri and Illinois medical malpractice cases include the following:

• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Punitive damages, in certain cases

It is important for victims to understand that obtaining compensation after being injured by medical malpractice does not occur automatically, even when liability is clear and the other party concedes the error. In most cases, victims only are able to obtain a fair settlement through the assistance of an experienced attorney. Insurance companies are businesses, and their profitability is maintained by paying out as little as possible, even for completely legitimate claims. For this reason, it is critical for victims to retain an attorney who understands the law regarding medical negligence and who has the skill to establish damages you or your loved one has sustained. It is also important to select an attorney who has the resources to take your case to trial and will not hesitate to so should it become necessary.

If you or a family member has been the victim of wrong-site surgery, you are likely entitled to significant financial compensation. At Kilo Flynn, our experienced attorneys are committed to helping individuals injured by medical negligence recover compensation and are qualified to take on even the largest hospitals and insurance companies.

We work with clients throughout the area, including the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford, and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe, to name a few. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 314-647-8910 or send us an email through our online contact form.