Every day hundreds of people undergo surgery in medical facilities across Texas. These procedures can range from the complex, such as with heart surgery, to relatively minor procedures, such as an incision and drainage of a wound. In any case, there is a level of risk involved, and negligence on the part of medical professionals can lead to surgical site infections.
You might consider an infection a lesser evil compared to the other potential risks of surgery; however, infections can be extremely dangerous. If you recently had surgery and are experiencing pain and/or drainage near the site of the procedure, you might need to seek additional medical attention as soon as possible.
Determining negligence in surgical site infections
Some infections following surgery are treatable with antibiotics, while other infections might even require another surgery to correct the issue. If left untreated, infections can become deadly. Although there are several ways in which an infection can occur during or after surgery, scenarios involving negligence could include:
- Failure to strictly adhere to procedures
- Rushing through the procedure
- Failure to properly close the wound
- Failure to manage the wound
- Insufficient training
There are a few things patients can do to guard against infection resulting from surgery. For instance, certain medical conditions can weaken your immune system, and informing a doctor of these issues is an excellent idea. However, if you did your part to avoid problems after surgery, and the negligence of another party caused you to suffer a dangerous infection, you might be wondering about available legal options.
Guidance and assistance
A serious infection could cause you a great deal of pain and suffering. With one potential fix being an additional surgery, you may also be facing significant financial issues as well. If an error during surgery, or even shortly after, is the cause of your new injury or illness, you may be in dire need of financial compensation. Provided you are still within the period allowed by Texas state statutes for bringing a medical malpractice claim, seeking experienced legal counsel may be in order.
Since the process can be intimidating and complex, you will probably find it beneficial to retain the services of an attorney with experience in handling medical malpractice claims. An attorney can evaluate your situation and advise you of the potential amount of compensation available and, subsequently, assist you in pursuing this amount through a claim against the negligent party or parties
For more on these matters, please see our page on post-surgery complications.