Every day, all across the United States of America, thousands of surgical procedures are performed in medical facilities. These procedures are conducted for a number of reasons ranging the gamut from cosmetic and elective purposes, to life saving and emergency purposes. Regardless of the reason behind the surgical procedure, all surgeries carry risk, while of course some more than others, and patients place a great deal of faith and trust in their medical professionals. Even though risk is understood, patients expect that their procedures are still going to go well, and that they will suffer no consequences or side effects.
While this is true for the most part, unfortunately, there are times when mistakes are made and complications arise. One of the top causes of injuries to patients during surgery is infection. This surgical complication accounts for the most injuries and deaths amongst patients in the United States, which has led to a great cause for concern over how well surgical instruments are being sterilized in healthcare facilities, as well as the techniques used to sterilize the equipment.
With over thirty million surgical procedures completed each and every year, there is a great chance of infection. In fact, statistics suggest that at least twenty percent of all procedures will lead to infections that could be prevented, simply because of using instruments that were contaminated. If this was not bad enough in and of itself, the side effects that can come from the infections can cause severe complications that can be life threatening and lead to the need to be hospitalized for long periods of time, which results in astronomical medical bills.
If you or someone you know has been harmed because of a surgical injury that resulted from contaminated instruments, it is important to understand that you have legal rights. These types of injuries are because of wrong doing and/or negligence you are entitled to file a claim to help recoup damages for pain and suffering as well as expenses. You should not delay in seeking the assistance and guidance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice. These professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law and are your best line of defense.
Surgical instruments, tools, and equipment provide doctors, surgeons, and even dentists with a great deal of assistance when conducting procedures. These implements allow medical professionals to reach areas that may not otherwise be reached, and are designed to help make procedures safer, and more effective. While safeguards are put into place to protect patients by making use of sterilization and other cleaning methods, there are times when this does not take place, or it is not done properly. Since there are a number of diseases that are considered to be communicable, failing to take adequate precautions can be a very serious issue that can have devastating complications for patients.
There is no doubt that inadequate sterilization causes instruments to become contaminated, which leads directly to patient health being placed in danger. Contaminated surgical instruments quickly spread a number of viruses and bacteria. Common illnesses that result from contamination include: HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis A, B, and C, Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal infections, pneumonia, Crutzfeldt Jakob Disease, as well as other serious conditions.
The medical complications from these diseases can be devastating, and in a number of cases fatal. Patients are left with their lives destroyed and are forced to face a new reality that will include years of medical treatments, medication, possibly future surgeries, and painful procedures. In some cases, the disease will never leave and the patient will have a shortened lifespan. On top of these serious health issues, the cost for treating the illnesses that result from contaminated instruments can be extremely high.
The law requires that medical professionals follow strict guidelines for thorough decontamination of all instruments and equipment being used in procedures. These guidelines are put in place to protect the safety and the health of all patients. When these guidelines are not followed correctly, a type of negligence has occurred and those who are responsible for the damages can be and should be held accountable for their actions.
If you or someone you know has suffered an infection or contracted a disease because of instruments that were not properly sterilized, it is important to understand that you have rights and you can seek compensation for your injuries. A lawsuit can be filed and compensation can be sought for a number of different issues including past, present, and future medical bills, a loss of income, a loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, as well as punitive damages in some cases. Punitive damages are a type of compensation that is awarded as nothing more than a form of punishment. This type of punishment is handed down as a way to hopefully prevent future similar acts from occurring again.
You should not delay in seeking the assistance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice and negligence. These professionals are highly skilled in this area of the law and will work hard on your behalf to get you the justice you so rightly deserve. Medical professionals and hospitals have teams of attorneys working to protect their interests, and you should have someone fighting for your rights in your corner.
These types of cases can be quite complicated and often hinge on many small details. Therefore, you should not attempt to file on your own without the help of a legal professional. You will need to ensure all details are complete, and that all statutes of limitations have been met. Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about funding your claim in advance or as it progresses through the court system. You pay nothing until the time your case settles. This can provide you with a great deal of comfort during an already difficult time, and you will find you have nothing to lose, but a great deal to gain.
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