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The relationship between a patient and their doctor is predicated on trust. You are putting your health and well-being in their hands. When you suffer a serious harm from your doctor’s carelessness or negligence, you feel violated. This is especially true if you suffer a life-altering injury during a gynecological procedure.

The failure of an obstetrician (a.k.a. OB/GYN) or their staff to perform a procedure within the standards accepted in the medical community, can form the basis of an OB/GYN medical malpractice claim. If a healthcare professional is negligent during the treatment, diagnosis or follow-up care of a patient, causing permanent harm a malpractice claim can be filed.

Although every surgery carries a risk of unforeseen complications, the manner in which a doctor reacts to complications can prove to be essential in a malpractice claim. If you or a loved one suffered a serious injury during a hysterectomy and other female-based medical procedures, this article is for you.

Below is an outline of common injuries that have occurred and led to OB/GYN malpractice cases that our Norfolk, Virginia medical practice lawyers have handled:

Damaged Ureters

During a hysterectomy, it is possible for the OB/GYN to burn, nick, cut or sever the ureter due to it being located near the uterus. The result of a cut ureter can lead to serious complications since the wound may allow urine to leak into the abdomen which can then lead to toxicity and in serious cases, sepsis; a life-threatening condition.

Damaged Bowel or Colon

If the bowel is cut, nicked or torn, during a hysterectomy procedure, the contents may spill into the abdomen or abdominal lining. The problem is, the bowel is rife with bacteria so you risk suffering from peritonitis, a severe inflammatory disease that is triggered by infection, and or sepsis.

Iliac Artery Injury and Outcome

We handled a case in which a client underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy at UVA Medical center in Charlottesville, VA in which the client’s bowel was negligently severed and her left and right iliac arteries were lacerated causing massive internal bleeding. The case went to trial. Over the course of a 3-day jury trial, our medical malpractice firm called multiple doctors to testify about the harm committed and the fact that this harm could have been prevented with better care. A verdict in favor of the injured patient was handed down in just a few hours with total damaged awarded at $825,000.

The compensation awarded in a medical malpractice suit can help to relieve the financial burden associated with any of the injuries above. The plaintiff might be entitled to some or all of the following: medical bills, punitive damages, pain and suffering, lost wages and more depending on details of the claim.

What to do now: Take Action

The Norfolk medical malpractice lawyers at our firm are ready to review your potential malpractice claim – at no cost – to determine if your case meets the firm’s criteria for moving forward with a lawsuit. Call us toll-free 24 hours a day at 1-800-752-0042. You can also get more free legal advice by downloading our medical malpractice guide, which was written by an attorney with our medical negligence injury team.

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