After undergoing an operation, Illinois patients require post-operative care and monitoring in order to ensure that they do not suffer from infection, excessive bleeding or some other health consequence after the procedure. Patients who do not receive the appropriate care could suffer from life-changing injuries or even death. When these post-surgical errors are discovered, a medical malpractice claim might be appropriate.
A lawsuit was the result of one woman’s experience with what she says was substandard post-operative care. She underwent an elective hysterectomy, which was considered to be a routine procedure. Within three days of the procedure, the woman was not urinating normally because she was allegedly suffering from a urinary tract infection. Her doctor did not believe that she was in any danger and made an appointment to see the woman the following Monday despite the fact that the doctor was on-call over the weekend in question.
The doctor did not believe the Michigan woman was in any real danger. However, six days after the procedure, she was in the emergency room of a hospital in her area being given medication to draw the blood from her limbs in order to protect her organs from a severe case of sepsis. This led to the amputation of her arms and legs. Even though this woman has not let her condition stop her from enjoying life, she requires constant care and assistance. Her life will never be the same.
This woman’s case is an example of how post-surgical errors can deprive an individual of a normal life. Illinois residents — or their families in the case of death — who suffer from post-surgical errors might follow this woman’s example and file a medical malpractice claim against the parties believed to be responsible. In addition to receiving monetary restitution from a successfully litigated claim, victims and/or their families could help prevent medical personnel from making the same mistakes.
Source: mlive.com, “Woman who lost arms, legs after surgery sues Spectrum Health, doctor“, John Agar, Sept. 7, 2016