Because surgery involves cutting open layers of skin, it is expected that surgery will leave scarring. Everyone knows somebody with a scar from getting their appendix removed or an ACL repair, etc. Scars heal and become less obvious over time. Disfigurement, on the other hand, is an injury that time cannot change. Disfigurement can traumatize a patient’s self-esteem forever and cause a multitude of other problems. Sometimes procedures require disfigurement to save the patient’s life, such as amputation surgeries. But unfortunately, in other instances, disfigurement is a result of poor medical practices. Here’s what to do if you suspect you suffered unexpected disfigurement after surgery.
As noted, some surgical procedures are going to leave scars and/or disfigurement. While all disfigurements are serious and often alters one’s life, if it was a necessary part of the procedure, there is no negligence. Common examples of disfigurements resulting from negligence are unnecessary amputations, severe scarring, chemical burns, or a severe change in external body function. Look into common outcomes for the type of surgery you underwent. If you notice uncommon symptoms or results in your case , negligence may have played a factor in the unfavorable result.
If, according to the doctor, the type of surgery you underwent was relatively safe there should be evidence to back that up. Or if it was risky, there should be evidence of that too. Look online and find medical articles or patient testimonials relating to your procedure. Make sure that the doctor was telling the truth about the success rate of the surgery. If there were many previous cases that ended in disfigurement that was not told to you prior to the procedure, then you may not have had the opportunity to give informed consent.
If you expected to have surgery for a small infection and woke up missing an arm, you should request medical records to see exactly what happened that caused the doctor to make that life-changing decision. If the decision seems irrational or random, or the explanation doesn’t line up, you may want an experienced team of attorneys and health care professionals to dig into the case and try to find answers.
Do you believe that you or your loved one has suffered as a result of medical malpractice or medical neglect? You need to talk to an experienced team of local lawyers today.
The lawyers at Cardaro & Peek, LLC have the experience and resources necessary to investigate and litigate all types of medical claims throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. Cardaro & Peek, LLC has medical personnel on staff and has access to nationally recognized, board-certified physicians and other experts, to assist in the investigation, analysis, and prosecution of all types of medical malpractice claims. If you or a loved one have experienced malpractice, give us a call at 410-752-6166. Please visit our website www.cardarolaw.com and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and LinkedIn for more information.
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