If I required a 2nd surgery hours after a laparoscopic appendectomy because of internal bleeding, was this negligence?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

If I required a 2nd surgery hours after a laparoscopic appendectomy because of internal bleeding, was this negligence?

I went to emergency room and required appendectomy. A few hours after surgery I started to hemorrhage from one of the incisions and was in extreme pain, my blood pressure dropped dangerously low and I was rushed back into surgery. I was bleeding internally as a “complication” from the surgery which was never explained. I required additional hospitalization and several blood transfusions because so much blood was lost. A year later, I still have many medical bills from the hospital, surgeon, etc. I have obtained my medical records but there is no explanation of what happened or why the second surgery? I am wondering if it was just a complication or if there was some sort of negligence?

Asked on June 13, 2012 under Malpractice Law, Arizona

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

You need a doctor to help you determine whether it was negligence or a normal complication; if you think it may be negligence, that doctor could be one you consult with for the purpose of a malpractice suit. There is no way to tell based on what you have written, however: malpractice is not simply that there was some bad outcome or consequence, but rather when the medical care provider is negligent, or careless, in some way. Sometimes, the doctor does everything right and there is still a problem, and when that happens, it is not malpractice.

A good way to start would be to consult with an experienced medical malpractice attorney--such have the experience and knowledge to tell if there's a reasonable chance that there's a case. If so,  then the next step would be an examination/consultation for this purpose.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption