Many Houston residents will need the help from an orthopedist at some point in their life. Many people need new hips, knee replacements, have sports injuries, etc. that require the care of an orthopedist. Most orthopedists provide excellent care, but occasionally something goes unexpectedly wrong and results in an unexpected injury and a medical malpractice claim.
When a patient has an unexpected injury during a procedure performed by an orthopedist it can come from many different errors. The most medical malpractice claims against orthopedists come from patients who believe their surgery was not performed properly. Usually the outcome of the procedure was not what the patient had expected. The next reason a patient files a medical malpractice claim against an orthopedist is improper management. This includes infections, continued pain after the procedure, and complications of orthopedic devices. A wrong diagnosis is another reason why a medical malpractice claim may be filed. This can include improperly diagnosed fractures, hematomas, dislocations, among other conditions.
All surgery carries risk. Patients are made aware of the risks that can be involved in the specific surgery they are undergoing. But occasionally an unexpected injury occurs because of a surgical error. In these cases, a patient and their family may want to speak with a legal professional skilled in medical malpractice. An attorney may be able to get the answers a family deserves as to what happened. Injured patients have legal rights to hold negligent physicians accountable for their errors. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.
No one expects to be the victim of a surgical error, but this nightmare happens to thousands across the United States each year. It is important to hold negligent medical providers accountable so that they don’t harm anyone else.
Source: beckersspine.com, “10 thoughts and statistics on medical malpractice claims against orthopedists“, Eric Oliver, Aug. 11, 2016
