Medical Malpractice Claim for 14-Year-Old Boy Comes to a Close

The family of a 14-year-old New York boy who died in 2010 after several years of suffering has received a $45.6 million verdict in a medical malpractice lawsuit. According to court documents, surgeons mistakenly inserted four screws into the boy’s spinal cord during a 2002 procedure, causing his paralysis. 

When a health care professional makes a mistake during a surgical procedure, the consequences can be deadly. The following are some of the most common issues that occur:

• Objects left in the body: Sometimes, surgeons may accidently leave pieces of equipment in the body cavity, including scalpels, sponges and gauze. This can be incredibly painful and cause severe infections.
• Operating on wrong part of body: It may seem hard to believe, but there are times when medical professionals conduct procedures on the wrong body part or the wrong patient altogether. This is often related to mix-up in paperwork.
• Anesthesia errors: If too much or too little anesthesia is administered to a patient, there could be serious problems as the surgery moves forward. Hospitals must be sure to staff skilled anesthesiologists for this important role.
• Nerve damage: It’s somewhat common for physicians to damage nerves and other parts of the body when trying to fix a health condition. This could leave patients dealing with additional issues they didn’t have to before the procedure.

If you or someone you know has suffered injuries due to a surgical error or some other form of medical malpractice, you may have the ability to seek compensation. For more information and guidance, speak with a compassionate Long Island injury lawyer at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.