Surgical Positioning Errors

Unfortunately, surgical errors are far too common across the state of Maryland and beyond. If you or someone you love has suffered harm due to a surgical positioning error, an experienced Baltimore medical malpractice lawyer can analyze the merits of your potential claim. You can rest assured that if we accept your legal matter, we will zealously advocate for your rights in the context of both settlement negotiations as well as litigation.

Surgical positioning refers to the placement of the patient in a specific position during surgery. Patients undergoing surgery are already vulnerable, and medical professionals should be vigilant about how they position a person during surgery. Mistakes in body positioning can lead to serious injuries including nerve damage, bedsores, circulatory issues, joint injuries, cell death, brain damage, severe blood loss, anesthesia mistakes as well as other injuries. Surgical positioning errors can lead to short-term and/or long-term injury for the patient.

Positioning a patient correctly during surgery is the surgical team’s responsibility, and it typically occurs after anesthesia has been administered. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to surgical positioning. It all depends on the procedure being performed as well as a number of other factors such as the weight, height, and age of the patient. In addition, circulation and respiratory issues must be considered.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to positioning errors during surgery, you may be entitled to compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice, in the context of a surgical positioning error, takes place when a healthcare provider fails to uphold his or her duty of care by failing to position the patient properly, thereby directly causing injury to the patient. The duty of care refers to the level of care that a reasonably prudent surgeon or provider would have used in the same or a similar situation. In order to win a medical malpractice claim, the plaintiff must establish the following elements:

• Duty: the doctor owed the patient a duty of care (i.e., a doctor-patent relationship existed).
• Breach: the doctor breached the duty of care owed to the patient (i.e., the doctor failed to act competently under the circumstances).
• Causation: the doctor’s breach was a direct cause of the patient’s surgical positioning injury.
• Damages: the patient suffered quantifiable damages as a result.

It is important to note that a patient who suffers from a surgical positioning injury can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against all parties that are responsible for the injury, and a knowledgeable attorney can help you identify all potential defendants.

Surgeries are intended to improve people’s health, not injure them. When surgical positioning errors lead to patient harm, that patient often needs additional time to recover, which can translate to lost wages due to time off work. In addition, the patient may need additional treatment to rectify the surgical positioning error injuries, which can mean more medical bills. Fortunately, Maryland law is designed to compensate victims of medical malpractice for their malpractice-related losses. Typically, an injured patient will be able to recover amounts for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, disability, and compensation for any other losses arising from the malpractice. Every case is different, and the exact amount of compensation you may be entitled to will depend on the specific facts of your case.

Surgical positioning errors are often overlooked, but they can have devastating consequences for a patient. If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a surgical positioning error or other malpractice by a doctor or nurse, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Arfaa Law Group, our highly skilled and reputable Baltimore attorneys will review your surgical error case at no cost to you, and provide you with an honest assessment of your claim. Call us today us at 410-889-1850 or contact us online to discuss your case.