Key Takeaways
- Unnecessary surgery can lead to cognitive decline from anesthesia, infections, emotional trauma, internal organ damage, hemorrhaging and even death.
- A surgeon recommending and completing a surgery that was not necessary could be considered grounds for a Portland medical malpractice lawsuit.
- Failing to follow the steps other surgeons would take, or to perform all necessary testing before surgery, could be medical malpractice.
- These complications do not always mean malpractice, but reviewing what happened can show whether the surgery could have been avoided.
- An attorney can help obtain medical records, talk to witnesses and consult medical experts about whether the surgeon made a mistake.
Medical Malpractice FAQs
Having surgery is a serious medical decision and one that is critical to save a person’s life in many situations. Yet, no one should go through the complications and risks of surgery unless it is the best option and only option. What you may find out later is that you did not need the procedure. Understanding the potential medical problems that occur as a result of unnecessary surgery is critical.
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Determine If the Procedure Was Unnecessary
The first step is to understand the medical need for the procedure. If the surgeon recommended and completed a surgery that was not necessary, that could be considered grounds for a Portland medical malpractice lawsuit.
If the procedure was not needed for any reason, such as because other care could have been just as effective or even more effective, that could be a concern. More so, if the doctor did not follow the steps that other surgeons would take before performing surgery or did not perform all necessary testing to make sure surgery was warranted, that could be medical malpractice.
Questions that often need to be asked include:
- Was the surgery the type of treatment best suited for the patient at this current position in their life?
- What other treatment options could have been effective?
- Did the doctor perform all testing to ensure the surgery was the right decision?
- Would other surgeons have operated at this time?
- Why did the surgeon believe this procedure was the best one for the patient’s specific needs?
“At Paulson Coletti, ‘liberty and justice for all’ is more than just a phrase – it is our mandate. Our team of trial lawyers is driven to pursue justice for the injured, ensuring that the responsible parties are held accountable. Whether your case settles or goes to trial, you can trust our Oregon personal injury lawyers to be the legal advocates you need so your voice can be heard.”
Consider the Potential Complications of Unnecessary Surgery
Even if the problem is resolved with the surgical procedure, some people may suffer numerous injuries and risks from the procedure, complicating their recovery. Some of the more common medical practices that can occur from unnecessary surgery include:
- Cognitive function declines due to anesthesia or other complications during the procedure
- Infections and complications to healing
- Emotional consequences, including trauma
- Diminished capacity due to the complications of a failed procedure
- Internal organ damage
- Hemorrhaging
- Death
Surgical malpractice is not always the case when these types of injuries occur. Many times, though, it is critical to look back at what occurred and why to determine if the surgery could have been avoided and, therefore, the outcome and complications could have been avoided.
Protect your patient rights: Read Unnecessary Spinal Surgery: When It May Be Medical Malpractice to learn how misdiagnosis, skipped conservative treatments, and improper surgical recommendations can constitute malpractice, and how to hold negligent surgeons accountable.
“Most cases settle, but each of our cases is prepared as if it’s going to trial. The insurance companies know it and so do the defense lawyers defending them. That’s why we get such great results for our clients.”
Uncovering Medical Malpractice in Your Case
To determine if medical problems that you are suffering could have been due to a doctor’s unnecessary surgical procedure, work with an attorney that understands the intricacies of the medical condition you had and the proper treatment methods. This will provide better insight into what your rights to compensation may be.
With the help of an attorney, you can learn more about what occurred and why. Your attorney can help you get medical records and talk to witnesses about what steps took place while also speaking to medical experts who can shed light on whether or not the surgeon made a mistake. Even if you are not sure that this took place, it is worth speaking to an attorney about those risks.
For help with conditions from an unnecessary surgery you believe has happened, contact Paulson Coletti Trial Attorneys PC at (503) 226-6361 for a free consultation. We are here to help you.