While any type of death is tragic and difficult for families to go through, negligent deaths at the hands of trained doctors is especially difficult. While there is always a level of risk involved in medical care, the most common types of wrongful deaths are due to:
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Emergency room negligence
- Surgical errors
- Medication errors
- Cancer treatments
- Provider neglect or abuse
Surgical Mistakes
Surgery errors can range from pre-surgery care, incomplete surgery procedures, and perforations or damage of internal organs unrelated to the surgery. These errors are most common in surgical teams, when multiple people are operating on the same patient at once. Examples of surgical errors include:
- Use of unsanitary surgical utensils
- Incorrect incisions
- Organ punctures
- Surgery on wrong organ
- Delayed surgery
Although not as common, doctors have also been known to leave towels, cotton balls, sponges and other surgical equipment inside patients’ bodies. These thoughtless mistakes can have serious life-threatening complications for patients and may even put them in worse shape than before their surgery.
Case – Joan Rivers
A more recent wrongful death lawsuit involved celebrity Joan Rivers. Rivers was undergoing an endoscopy when her oxygen supply was suddenly cut off, and she fell into a coma. The lawsuit claims that the doctors ignored fatal edema signs, gave an inappropriate amount of Propofol to the patient, and failed to act appropriately given the situation. The operating doctor was also unauthorized to perform surgery at the clinic.
Reduce Your Risk of Surgery Errors
One of the best ways to reduce your risk of errors is by being actively involved in the talks and decisions surrounding your care. Speak up when something sounds off because it’s your body. Be aware of what is going on in your health care
- If confused about a doctor’s recommendations – Ask questions
- Do your research and ask for input from other professionals
- Assign a close friend or loved one to advocate on your behalf, should you be found unable to.
- Read consent forms carefully
- Protect your rights and wishes – write a will
If a loved one or someone you know was a victim of wrongful death, O’Keeffe O’Brien Lyson Foss attorneys can help you build a case and pursue legal action. Give our team a call at (877) 235-8002 or visit our website to learn more about our team.
Image courtesy of DarkoStojanovic/pixabay.
