Nerve injuries due to medical negligence or malpractice
Nerve injuries due to medical negligence or malpractice
Nerve injuries caused during surgery is a medical malpractice which entitles you to file a lawsuit against the responsible medical experts. Damage to the nerves as a result of negligence during surgery is a common medical malpractice lawsuit. The consequences and impacts of nerve injuries during surgery can often be permanent, leading to paralysis, seizures, and other disabilities for the patient, and sometimes death.
Symptoms of nerve injuries
Patients who have suffered nerve damage during surgery may exhibit one or more of any of the following symptoms post-surgery:
- Seizures
- Temporary or permanent loss of sensation/feeling
- Loss of motor function
- Deformities and scarring
- Paralysis
Common causes of nerve damage in surgery
Nerve damage occurs in two common scenarios during surgery. One can be a mistake or miscalculation of the procedure or drugs administered by the surgeon to the patient. Secondly, improper administration of anesthesia can lead to severe nerve damages. Negligence in using surgical tools is the most common cause of nerve injuries during surgery. Other causes and risk factors include:
- Inappropriate usage of surgical tourniquets
- Wrong positioning of the patient on the surgery table
- Wrong application of pressure on a nerve [for a prolonged period of time]
- Poor utility of surgical devices, retractors, bandages and other equipment and medications
- Failure to diagnose a degenerative condition or syndrome
More often than not, nerve injuries are permanent. Nerve blocks that are improperly administered with anesthesia [general or local] to manage pain can cause serious damage to the nerve, leaving permanent disabilities as listed above.
These errors are capable of preventing blood flow to certain nerves, or to the brain and central nervous system. Sometimes surgical errors may result in burning, cutting, or severing a nerve. This can cause catastrophic [and irreversible] damages to the patient’s life.
Liability in a case of nerve damage during surgery
Filing a lawsuit in a case of nerve injury can be complicated. The victim will be required to prove with substantial evidence that the surgical expert performed negligently in an act that strayed from the basic standard of acceptance. The basic elements to be proved by the patient to win his case of medical malpractice will include:
- The doctor-patient relationship in existence
- Negligence of the surgical expert during, immediately before or after surgery
- Impact and damages caused by the act of negligence by the doctor
Seeking compensation
Depending upon the evidence available in proving the case of medical malpractice, the patient or his family can claim a compensation for the following:
- Cost of medication, treatment and hospital charges
- Loss of ability to earn a living
- Pain and suffering [physical as well as mental trauma]
- Disability [temporary or permanent] caused by negligence
If you or someone you love has suffered nerve damage due to medical negligence during, before or after surgery, contact the New York City medical malpractice attorneys today to schedule a free consultation. Our number is right here: 212-344-1000. Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff have law offices located in Astoria, Queens, New York City and two locations in Brooklyn.
We are not paid until you are paid. We have won millions of dollars for clients just like you. Tired of worrying and struggling to pay your bills? We can alleviate these headaches!
