November 2, 2018
The Weitz Firm, LLC

In 2014, Larry Diener was in miserable shape. He had diverticulitis and his colon was blocked off. His doctors told him that he needed colon surgery.

So, in May of that year, that is what he did.

“I felt better than I’d felt in a long time,” said Diener. Unfortunately, things got worse. After an unrelated shoulder surgery, he did not recover as well. He got sick and took three rounds of antibiotics before a CT scan was ordered.

It turns out that the staff had left two sponges inside of him during his 2014 surgery. One had attached to his colon and the other was pressing on his diaphragm. When Dr. John Mellinger, General Surgery Chair at SIU Medicine, was asked how often things like this occur, he said, “It’s not common, but it’s certainly more common than any of us would like.”

Unfortunately, mistakes like this do happen. Do you know what to do if you have been the victim of a surgical mistake?

When you need a Philadelphia surgical malpractice attorney, turn to The Weitz Firm, LLC. They will work to ensure that you are compensated for all of your incident-related expenses.

What Happens?

We know that medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer. Some estimates say that medical errors kill as many as 440,000 people in this country annually.

That is simply too many.

When it comes to surgical errors, many people think of the “never events,” those things that should not occur under any circumstances. These can include operating on the wrong body part, leaving object inside of people, performing the wrong procedure, etc.

The consequences of these “never events” are:

  • Temporary injury (59 percent)
  • Permanent injury (33 percent)
  • Death (6.6 percent)

We hear about those events because they must be reported, but we do not hear about more “minor” surgical errors, those that happen much more often. These can include things like perforating the bowel during a routine colonoscopy or accidentally slicing an artery during an operation.

We know that there are risks associated with any invasive procedure. Surgeons are required to inform patients of these risks before an operation so they can get an informed consent from them. However, a signed consent form does not mean they are not responsible for negligence and careless actions.

What You Can Do

Surgical mistakes are many people’s worst nightmare. If it has happened to you or a loved one, we know you will have many questions. Unfortunately, “never events” do happen, as do more minor surgical mistakes. We know these mistakes can really affect your life and well-being. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we will work to secure compensation for the following:

  • All incident-related medical expenses
  • Lost income if you miss work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Punitive damages

If you need a Philadelphia surgical malpractice attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.

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