Surgical Malpractice

Tonsillectomy Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: September 7, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

You may think that a tonsillectomy is a routine procedure with hardly any risks but the reality is that if a surgeon is not careful, the patient can suffer severe injury. If you or someone close to you has suffered harm due to a botched tonsillectomy, you need to reach out to a skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we will thoroughly investigate your situation to determine the viability of your claim.

Your tonsils are part of your immune system. They are located at the back of your throat and come in three types, all of which work to fight infections. Sometimes, however, tonsils become sore, inflamed and infected. If this happens and persists for a while, your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove tonsils known as a tonsillectomy. In other words, a tonsillectomy is the surgical removal of the tonsils. While this procedure is used to treat tonsillitis, it is also used to treat sleep-disordered breathing. It may also be used to treat rare diseases of the tonsils. Individuals under the age of 15 are most likely to undergo this procedure.

Despite the routine nature of the surgery, there is still the possibility for negligence and error on the part of a medical professional. For instance, since tonsils are located by veins, there is a possibility for complications related to bleeding if the surgeon is not extremely careful. Another way a patient could be injured is if the surgeon fails to remove all of the tonsils and tonsil tissue grows back. Of course, there are numerous examples of the types of mistakes that can be made and you can rest assured we will identify any such errors made in your case.

Surgeons Who Exhibit Bad Behavior More Likely to be Sued for Malpractice

Published on: August 9, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

When a surgeon makes an error, it can cost a patient his or her life. If you or someone close to you has been hurt by a surgeon’s malpractice, you may be eligible to recover damages for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys can meticulously evaluate your case and advise you accordingly.A Harvard study found that surgeons who behave badly, such as by yelling, snapping, intimidating, or belittling colleagues, are more likely to face medical malpractice claims. Researchers examined evaluations of surgeon behavior from peers, supervisors, trainers, coworkers, and others with malpractice history for surgeons from four academic medical centers. They used survey data for 264 surgeons from 2012 to 2013 and matched it to malpractice data spanning from 2000 to 2015.

The study found that surgeon behavior was linked to malpractice claims. Surgeons who showed multiple positive behaviors, according to the reviews, had less chance of being hit with malpractice claims, while negative behaviors, on the other hand, were associated with a higher likelihood of malpractice claims. These findings highlight the importance of teamwork and communication in exposure to malpractice.

Wrong-Site Surgery Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: June 11, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Wrong-site surgery can have shattering and life-long consequences for a patient. If you have been hurt because of a wrong-site surgery, you need to reach out to an experienced Syracuse medical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause.

One of the most shocking forms of malpractice is a wrong-site surgery. Wrong-site surgeries are a type of medical malpractice and considered to be very serious surgical errors. In fact, a wrong-site surgery is considered a “never event” because it is completely preventable and therefore should never happen.

Sadly, wrong-site surgeries are more common than you might expect. Data from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) reveals that wrong-site surgery is the third highest-ranking event for preventable medical errors, comprising approximately 15 percent of the total preventable medical errors that occur nationwide. In addition, JCAHO found that 76 percent of wrong-site surgeries were surgeries performed on the wrong body part, while the other 24 percent were split between operations using the wrong procedure or operations on the wrong person. It is estimated that wrong-site surgeries happen 40 times a week on average.

Post-Surgical Infections in Syracuse

Published on: May 16, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Surgical procedures are daunting for any patient. When surgical wounds become infected due to not being cleaned properly, the patient can suffer grave harm. If you or someone close to you has developed an infection after surgery, you need to have a seasoned Syracuse medical malpractice attorney on your side. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we believe you deserve an opportunity to hold the responsible party accountable and get fair compensation for your injuries.

In any medical procedure in which the skin is being cut or pierced, there is a potential for infection. This is because the object poking through the skin can introduce bacteria into the body. A post-surgical infection, also known as a surgical site infection (SSI), refers an infection that occurs within 30 days of a surgical procedure in the part of the body where the surgery took place. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), SSIs were the most common health care-associated infection, accounting for 31 percent of all hospital-acquired infections among hospitalized patients. In fact, there were approximately 722,000 hospital-acquired infections in the country, leading to over 75,000 deaths in 2011.

Many times, medical malpractice is the basis for SSIs. Medical malpractice takes place when a medical professional fails to use the level of care that a reasonably prudent medical professional would have used in the same or similar circumstances, thereby injuring the patient. A number of errors or negligent acts could lead to a post-surgical infection, including but not limited to:

Appendicitis Malpractice in Syracuse and New York

Published on: March 29, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

A failure to diagnose appendicitis can result in a serious injury or even death to a patient. If you believe your doctor misdiagnosed your symptoms or failed to diagnose appendicitis in a timely manner, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys have helped many New York clients resolve their personal injury claims, and we can help you as well. You can rest assured that we are committed to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause.

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix and causes pain in your lower abdomen. In most people, the pain begins in the navel and then moves. As the inflammation worsens, the pain increases. While anyone can develop appendicitis, it is most common in people between the ages of 10 and 30. Standard treatment for the condition is the surgical removal of the appendix to avoid the danger of rupture. A ruptured appendix can result in the leaking of infection-causing organisms into the abdominal cavity, which can lead to serious health complications and even death. Appendicitis may be misdiagnosed for any of the following reasons:

Improper physical examination;

Amputation Malpractice in Syracuse and Across New York

Published on: March 1, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

The loss of a limb is undoubtedly one of the most devastating things any human being can experience. If you or someone close to you underwent an amputation when it was not medically necessary, you may have been a victim of medical malpractice. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our diligent Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys are committed to representing New York residents who have required an amputation due to a medical professional’s negligence.

An amputation refers to the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity, such as an arm, leg, foot, or other body part. The amputation of any body part is a life-altering experience that can lead to serious health problems and psychological issues for a patient. According to The National Loss Limb Information Center, approximately 1.7 million people currently living in the United States can trace their loss of limb to an accident caused by someone else. Unfortunately, in some cases, an amputation is a result of medical malpractice. Common examples of medical malpractice resulting in a need for an amputation include but are not limited to:

Surgery on the wrong body part, resulting in amputating the wrong limb;

Neurosurgery Malpractice in Syracuse

Published on: February 23, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Neurosurgery is one of the most sensitive types of surgery, and neurosurgeons are required to use the utmost care when performing these procedures. If you have suffered injuries resulting from neurosurgery, an experienced Syracuse surgical error attorney can help you determine your next steps. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to holding negligent medical professionals accountable for the harm that they cause. We can meticulously review your case and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Neurosurgery is the surgical specialization that treats diseases and disorders of the brain, nervous system, and spinal cord. It is a broad category that includes brain surgery. Brain tumors, subdural hematomas, strokes, and spinal cord trauma are among the conditions often treated with neurosurgery. All neurosurgery carries risks, but in some cases, a neurosurgeon’s negligence is a cause of preventable harm.

While many neurosurgery errors take place in the operating room, these errors also take place in regular offices when doctors are trying to diagnose and treat medical issues. Patients can suffer serious and even deadly injuries when neurosurgeons make certain medical errors, such as:

Syracuse Gastric Bypass Malpractice

Published on: January 25, 2018 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Weight loss surgeries such as gastric bypass surgery have gained immense popularity in recent years. If it is not performed properly, gastric bypass surgery can have devastating effects on patients and their families. If you or a loved one has been injured during or as a result of a gastric bypass procedure, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our Syracuse medical malpractice attorneys can scrutinize the facts of your case and determine the viability of your claim. You can rest assured that we are here to protect your rights at every step of the way.

Gastric bypass surgery refers to a procedure that helps an individual lose weight by changing how the stomach and intestine handle the food that a person eats. The surgery generally involves making a small stomach and removing the rest of the stomach. The small intestine is then attached to the new stomach, permitting the lower part of the stomach to be bypassed. After the surgery, the stomach is smaller, and individuals feel full with less food.

Unfortunately, injuries and deaths associated with gastric bypass procedures are more common than you may think. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2 percent or one in every 50 gastric bypass surgery patients died within 30 days of their operations. The report also found that 5 percent or one in 20 died within a year – the complications ranging from infection and incisional hernia to ulcers and blood clots in the lungs.

Anesthesia Errors in Syracuse and New York

Published on: December 27, 2017 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

Anesthesiologists play a vital role in keeping patients safe during surgical procedures. If you or a loved one has suffered harm due to an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled Syracuse anesthesia malpractice attorneys understand the serious consequences that can result from such errors, which is why are committed to providing aggressive yet compassionate representation at every step of the way. You can rest assured that we are here to answer your questions and address your concerns.

Whether it is a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic that puts you to sleep, the goal of anesthesia is the same: to reduce or prevent pain and allow physicians to work. While the use of anesthesia is normally safe, mistakes involving anesthesia can lead to serious injuries and even death. Anesthesia errors affect many people in New York and throughout the United States each year. In fact, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations states that 21,000 to 42,000 Americans experience anesthesia awareness each year – a condition in which the intended state of complete unconsciousness is not maintained throughout the whole surgical procedure. In other words, the patient can recall the surroundings or an event related to the surgery while under general anesthesia. Other examples of anesthesia errors include:

Dosage error (too much or too little);

Malpractice Caused by Contaminated Instruments in Syracuse

Published on: December 11, 2017 | By DeFrancisco & Falgiatano

When we visit a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility, we expect that any instruments used will be sterilized. If you or someone close to you has been adversely affected by contaminated instruments, it is imperative to reach out to a knowledgeable Syracuse surgical malpractice attorney who can help. At DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Personal Injury Lawyers, we understand how dirty instruments can cause serious health problems, such as infections and illnesses. You can rest assured that we will analyze the facts of your case and help you mount a strong case for financial compensation.

Unfortunately, the use of contaminated instruments may be more common than you think. According to a pilot program conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, out of 1,500 outpatient surgery centers that were inspected, about 28 percent were cited for infection control deficiencies related to surgical instrument cleaning and sterilization. Using unclean instruments can lead to a number of adverse consequences, including infections, loss of limb, and even death.

Hospitals have a duty to make sure that germs, disease, and contamination are kept in check through proper sterilization methods. When a dirty instrument injures a patient, that patient may be able to recover compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Medical malpractice is defined as a failure to render care or treatment in accordance with the accepted standards of medical practice. In other words, medical malpractice takes place when a person or entity causes a patient harm by deviating from the level of care that a reasonably prudent person or entity would have used in the same or a similar situation. For example, a hospital adhering to the accepted standard of care would have a system in place to ensure each instrument was sterilized before it was used on a patient. As a result, a hospital that caused a patient harm by failing to do this would likely be liable for malpractice.