Denver Surgical Positioning Error Attorneys
Helping Victims Harmed by Improper Surgical Positioning in Denver
One of the more surprising causes of death and injury during surgery is improper body position, which constitutes medical malpractice. When a patient is undergoing surgery, one of the critical preparatory steps before performing surgery is appropriately positioning the patient’s body to avoid pressure injuries, lack of circulation, nerve damage, and other complications.
When body positioning in surgery is performed incorrectly, significant harm can be inflicted on the patient. If you or a loved one have suffered a surgical injury due to incorrect positioning, you may have a Denver medical malpractice claim against the liable parties, including the surgeon, hospital, or others. We at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. have seen the tragic impact that improper body positioning can have firsthand. Let us fight for you and your loved ones. We always put our clients first. Call us at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to discuss your malpractice legal matter.
What is a Surgical Positioning Error?
When a patient undergoes surgery, one of the first steps after general anesthesia is positioning the patient. When a surgeon is determining the best position for the patient, they must consider several factors, including:
- Providing unobstructed access to the surgical site
- Preventing a loss of blood flow to any part of the body
- Not placing undue pressure on the body
- Avoiding unnatural body positions
- Any needed restraints to prevent a nervous muscle movement reaction during surgery
- The age, weight, physical condition, and history of chronic health problems of the patient
- Maintaining circulation and avoiding restricted oxygen flow to the brain
In some cases, unnatural positions during surgery are unavoidable, and pressure must be placed on one or more parts of the body. In these cases, adjusting body position during the operation may be needed to ensure the safety of the patient and prevent injury. Regardless of the situation, surgeons are required to ensure the health and safety of their patients.
Common Injuries Sustained From Poor or Inadequate Body Positioning
Injuries sustained from body positioning errors can be severe and sometimes even fatal. It’s important to understand the type of injuries you could sustain, as a surgeon may be reluctant to admit they made an error during your procedure. The more common injuries include:
- Nerve damage that can result in temporary or long-term paralysis
- Bedsores
- Blood clots
- Brain damage due to lack of blood flow and insufficient oxygen in the brain
- Joint dislocation
- Muscle and bone pain
- Deep tissue injuries
- Increased bleeding
- An unexpected nervous muscle response during surgery causing a surgical error
- Collateral damage to other body parts
The likelihood of a body positioning injury increases dramatically with each hour the patient is under general anesthesia. Especially since some surgeries last upwards of five, six, or even seven hours. In these cases, body positioning plays a critical role, and it’s up to the surgeon to make sure this aspect of surgery is performed with the accepted standard of care.
Determining Liability for Injuries Sustained From Improper Surgical Positioning
If you or a loved one have suffered a severe injury from improper or inadequate surgical positioning, you may be entitled to file a medical malpractice claim to seek to recover compensation for your injuries. Determining liability in such cases is based on three critical factors.
First, that the surgeon or anesthesiologist had a duty of care towards you.
Second, that this duty of care was breached.
Third, that the breach directly resulted in your injuries.
Proving this liability requires demonstrating that the injuries were the result of improper positioning, an act of medical malpractice by the surgeon or other medical professional responsible for positioning the body for surgery.
What is Your Case Worth?
Determining the compensation appropriate for your case will reflect several factors, most notably the severity of your injuries and the long-term effects those injuries have on your future health and wellbeing. Damages that can be recovered also depend on the details of your case. They may include, but are not limited to, medical costs, any lost wages, lowered quality of life, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and compensation for wrongful death. Recoverable damages for the same types of injuries vary from state to state.
At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we perform a comprehensive analysis of our cases to determine the maximum compensation possible and will relentlessly pursue the maximum in damages in a negotiated settlement, or in court.
Why Choose Leventhal Puga Braley P.C.?
Medical malpractice suits are challenging due to the technical factors involved. At Leventhal Puga Braley P.C., we are very familiar with the medical language and the accepted standards of care in surgery. We have decades of experience bringing these cases to trial and recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Due to hard work and dedication, we achieved the two highest medical malpractice verdicts ever awarded in Colorado.
Our Denver surgical malpractice lawyers are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, and when we take on a surgical injury case, our entire attorney team will be involved. Our cases are all taken on contingency, with no legal fees due unless we successfully recover a settlement or jury award. An initial consultation is at no cost. Call us today at (303) 759-9945 or toll-free at (877) 433-3906 to discuss your case.
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