In recent history, advances in medical techniques and equipment have given Illinois patients the chance to survive injuries and illnesses that would have either been debilitating or fatal in the past. Even so, surgical procedures still need to be attended by physicians, nurses and other medical personnel. Adding the human element can result in surgical errors that leave patients physically and emotionally scarred — if they survive at all.
Some of the things that can go wrong during a surgical procedure often sound like urban legends. Surgical instruments left inside a patient, a surgeon operating on the wrong part of the body, and performing a surgery that was not necessary, can and do happen to people all over the country who literally put their lives in the hands of a surgical team. It may be easier to believe that instruments may not be properly sterilized, patients develop post-operative infections and unresolved surgical bleeding occurs, which might also be the result of surgical negligence.
The consequences of these mistakes can be devastating to an Illinois patient. In some cases, the patient is forced to endure additional surgical procedures and other medical treatment in an attempt to resolve the issue. Patients can be left with permanent injuries that may plague them fot the rest of their lives — if they survive at all.
Surgical errors not only take a toll on your body, but also on your finances. The medical costs alone may cause you to struggle financially, which will not help with your recovery. Depending on the issue, you may not be able to work while you recover — or ever again. If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a surgeon or a member of the team, your family may never be the same again. An attorney may be able to help you receive monetary restitution that could go a long way in alleviating the stress your financial losses may cause by proving negligence on the part of one or more members of your surgical team, which could lead to the court awarding you damages.