Surgical errors transform routine procedures into disasters. Missouri law provides protections for patients facing these high-stakes medical mistakes. How can these errors impact one’s rights?
Internal organ perforations
While a perforation may occur during surgery, the failure to identify and repair it constitutes a breach of the standard of care. A punctured bowel or sliced artery can leak toxins into the body and may cause permanent organ failure. A patient may need long-term dialysis or transplants to address the failure of a major organ system.
Wrong-level spinal procedures
A surgeon operating on the wrong vertebrae can cause permanent paralysis. This mistake may lead to paraplegia or quadriplegia, which requires a lifetime of nursing care. Such loss of limb function can involve massive costs for home changes and medical gear.
Anesthesia monitoring failures
Meanwhile, incorrect sedation levels or poor monitoring can deprive the brain of vital oxygen. This lack of oxygen can cause permanent cognitive impairment and a total loss of independence. A patient may lose the ability to eat, dress or walk without help.
Optic nerve damage
Further, errors during facial or brain surgeries can damage the optic nerves beyond repair. A patient may suffer vision loss or become legally blind because of a surgeon’s mistake.
Aiming to restore one’s future security
Medical errors during surgery can change the trajectory of a person’s life and affect their financial stability. Since navigating the legal landscape can be overwhelming, seeking counsel from an advocate may help a patient fight for fair compensation. Also, having legal guidance may help them calculate the true cost of lifelong care as they aim to restore their future security.
