There are many different types of medical procedures that can be performed on an individual. These procedures can vary quite a bit in their invasiveness. Whether a procedure is minimally invasive or is a major surgery, it is very important for the medical professionals who are performing the procedure to not act improperly in relation to it. No patient here in Illinois should have to face medical negligence in relation to a procedure. Negligence during medical procedures can have substantial impacts.
Recently, a judge ruled against a doctor in a medical malpractice case from another state. The state in question is New York.
The case involved a woman who underwent a liposuction procedure in December 2011. The procedure involved using a laser to burn fat cells. The procedure is considered minimally invasive.
The woman alleges that the doctor who performed the procedure acted negligently during it and that this resulted in her suffering burns. The woman further claimed that the doctor took efforts to try to stop her from seeking hospital care for the burns. According to the woman, she suffered scarring and disfigurement as a result of the burns.
The woman brought a medical malpractice lawsuit against the doctor in relation to these allegations. As we mentioned above, the judge in this case ruled against the doctor. It has not yet been decided what damage award the doctor will be required to pay.
Also, New York officials are currently in the process of determining whether or not the doctor will lose his medical license in relation to the incident.
One wonders what decisions will ultimately be made in regards to the damage award and the potential license revocation.
As this case shows, just because a procedure is minimally invasive doesn’t mean that patients can’t suffer harms when doctors fail to act properly in relation to it. One hopes that doctors are held responsible when they commit harmful negligence during a medical procedure.
Source: The New York Daily News, “EXCLUSIVE: Manhattan OB/GYN scorches patient with lipo laser – sued for malpractice,” Joe Kemp, Oct. 16, 2013