An appendectomy is a common surgery that many Houston residents will need at some point in their life. Although this surgery is done thousands of times each day to relieve patients’ extreme pain, surgical errors can still occur.
A woman is suing the surgeon who performed an appendectomy on her in 2009 alleging that he did not remove the entire appendix, resulting in a necessary second appendectomy a few months later. The woman had an emergency appendectomy on Christmas Day in 2009. She was pregnant at the time. In May 2010, she had to have another appendectomy because of the development of appendicitis in the portion of the appendix that was remaining. This second surgery resulted in the premature birth of her daughter, who now has developmental disabilities. The woman alleges that the surgeon’s mistake resulted in the second surgery and thus her child’s injuries. She has since filed a lawsuit.
As this case shows, even a routine surgery like an appendectomy can result in surgical errors. Surgeons who are running on autopilot, distracted by the time of year, or whatever other excuse they may have should be held accountable for their mistakes. If a person has suffered injuries as a result of a surgical error, they may wish to contact a legal professional skilled in medical malpractice. The attorney can review medical records, consult with experts, and determine what happened to cause the unexpected injury and/or worsened medical condition. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
No surgery is routine for patients who have to undergo it. Patients deserve a surgeon who does his or her best to not make mistakes. It is important to hold a negligent surgeon accountable for his or her mistakes so that he or she doesn’t harm anyone else.
Source: The Times-News, “Plaintiff rests in malpractice trial”, Michael D. Abernethy, Dec. 12, 2014
