Frequently Asked Questions about Surgical and Other Medical Errors in Tennessee

As a patient who was required to seek medical attention for a serious condition, you probably researched your doctor, the medical staff, and the facility before committing to entrusting yourself to these professionals for surgery or treatment. You wanted to be certain that you would have the best care possible. The last thing that you thought about was that your doctor was going to make a mistake that would lead to a lifetime of pain and suffering for you. Now, you are left struggling to discover what went wrong. There are some questions that you may consider in trying to determine how this could have happened to you.

Did your doctor consider all the possible medical complications that could result from the medical procedure?

A surgeon or other skilled medical practitioner has the obligation to consider what complications can arise as part of an operation or treatment. These possible complications should be shared with the patient if it is necessary to understand the risks and benefits of the procedure. The doctor also should take all reasonable precautions to mitigate against the risk of harm.

Did your doctor warn you about the potential risks?

As the patient, you have the right to be informed about the risks and benefits of the proposed surgery or other treatment in order to make an informed decision about moving forward. If the doctor did not disclose alternative treatments, then he may be liable for the injury that resulted from the recommended surgery or treatment. The doctor does not have to discuss all possible alternatives, merely the ones that a doctor of similar skill and training would reasonably have presented to a patient. An experienced medical malpractice attorney can explain how the standard of care applies in this type of case.

Did the doctor respond in an appropriate manner when the complications arose?

In a situation like a wrong-site surgery, the reaction would be to recognize the mistake as soon as possible and take all necessary steps to mitigate the harm. However, this response also is important when something goes wrong in any surgery, even one being performed on the correct place in the right patient, or during other types of treatment. The doctor should recognize that there is a problem as soon as it arises and react with the proper medical solution without delay. The failure to act in a reasonable manner in accordance with standard medical practices is medical malpractice.

Did your doctor use the necessary medical equipment in the acceptable manner?

The evolution of medical equipment and machinery has followed the technology revolution that gives us smart phones and miniature tablets. A doctor may perform an entire surgery without ever picking up a scalpel, through the use of a computer and programmed laser. As wonderful as these advancements are, if they are not applied with the requisite skill, the harm may be catastrophic. It is critical for the doctor to have the appropriate training and hands-on experience to use this medical equipment properly.

As a patient, you may believe that your surgeons and other doctors are infallible and that anything that went wrong was unavoidable. The medical profession would like you to continue to believe this, but the truth is that mistakes happen and many injuries were preventable. The knowledgeable and dedicated Tennessee medical malpractice attorneys at Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC have the experience to evaluate what happened to you, with the assistance of expert medical professionals on whom they rely in these cases, and help you determine a plan to get compensation for your pain and suffering. To discuss what happened to you in a free and confidential consultation, please call us at (888) 470-9143.