Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice

While the techniques to accomplish gallbladder removal surgery have become more advanced and less invasive, oversights and mistakes do still happen, resulting in serious patient harm. If you have suffered complications that you believe may have been caused by gallbladder surgery malpractice, the experienced Baltimore medical malpractice attorneys at Arfaa Law Group may be able to help. With extensive experience, you can trust that we will fully investigate your case and honestly advise you about your legal options following a surgical error.

Gallbladder surgery is performed on hundreds of thousands of patients throughout the country every year. People undergo this surgery in the hope of gaining permanent relief from painful gallstones. The most common method of performing gallbladder surgery includes using laparoscopic techniques involving more discreet incisions that lessen scars and often lead to relatively quicker recovery. In a laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon creates a tiny incision and uses a miniature camera to examine the patient’s internal organs. The surgeon then does the surgery based on what is shown on through the camera.

When gallbladder removal surgery is not performed correctly or a mistake is made during the procedure, it can have serious and long-term consequences for a patient. One of the most common injuries that occurs during gallbladder surgery is when the doctor clips or cuts the bile duct. This is a very serious injury that can lead to a range of serious health problems for the patient including digestive issues, liver damage, damage to the pancreas, diabetes and even death. Surgical mistakes can also lead to the following: tearing caused by the insertion of instruments, inadequate identification of arteries or organs, and/or cutting the bowel or intestine.

Doctors have an obligation to use due care when a patient is on the operating table. If you have suffered what you believe to be a preventable injury during or after gallbladder surgery, you may be eligible to pursue compensation by filing a medical malpractice claim. In this context, medical malpractice takes place when a surgeon causes harm to a patient by failing to provide treatment in accordance with the standard of care that a reasonably prudent surgeon would have used under the same circumstances. In order to win a medical malpractice case related to gallbladder surgery, the plaintiff must establish the following elements:

• The surgeon owed the plaintiff a duty of care;
• The surgeon breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff;
• The surgeon’s breach was a direct and proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injury; and
• The plaintiff’s injuries led to specific damages.

Each of these elements must be shown in order to win a claim. If there are no ill effects from the surgeon’s breach, for example, you will not be able to recover any compensation for your harm.

In Maryland medical malpractice cases, a medical expert must testify as to whether the defendant medical professional’s actions adhered to the standard of care (i.e., were the surgeon’s actions in line with what a reasonably prudent surgeon in the same situation would have done?). The medical expert is almost always a medical professional who practices medicine in the same speciality as the defendant. There are a number of basic but stringent requirements that must be met in this regard under Maryland law. Our seasoned lawyers understand these requirements and can help you find an expert witness who can effectively testify in your case.

If you believe that you have suffered harm or lost a loved one due to medical malpractice from a negligently performed gallbladder removal surgery, you may be entitled to compensation. At Arfaa Law Group, our hardworking Baltimore attorneys understand how to investigate gallbladder surgery malpractice claims and can apply our knowledge to your case. We know that this is a stressful time for your family, which is why we will try to make the legal process as seamless as possible. To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced team members, call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.