Nerve damage leads to medical malpractice claim
July 9th, 2015Surgeries can be one of the most dangerous procedures a patient may undertake. When multiple medical conditions cause complications, mistakes are much easier for doctors to make. These surgical errors do not have to be fatal to potentially ruin a patient’s life, as one Louisiana woman learned.
This patient needed surgery to have a shunt placed in her left arm. While this is a relatively easy procedure, complications arose due to the patient’s medical history. She was diabetic and suffered from both high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. With these conditions, anesthesia was not a viable option. Rather, she was given local anesthetics to numb the arm.
Soon after the surgery, the plaintiff realized that she could not move the arm in which the shunt was placed, and her hand felt very cold. She notified the doctor who performed the procedure, who had her come in immediately to get examined. An ultrasound revealed damage and lack of blood flow in the arm. To remedy the situation, the doctor transplanted a vein from the patient’s thigh to her arm.
After this surgery, the plaintiff visited her physical therapist, who told her the paralysis was permanent. She visited a few specialists who conFirmed she had severe nerve damage.
The defendant is now being sued for not performing the surgery in an “artful manner,” plus neglecting to consult with a specialist. The monetary damages being claimed has not been released.
Anyone who has suffered from medical malpractice, including surgical errors, may benefit from consulting an experienced attorney.
Source: Louisiana Record, “Medical malpractice lawsuit filed over alleged nerve damage from injection,” Brandon Caples, July 8, 2015
