When you arrive at an Idaho hospital to have a procedure, you expect that it will be done properly. However, there is a chance that your surgeon will make an error despite that person’s best efforts to avoid doing so. There are several clues that you should be aware of that might indicate that something has gone wrong.
You don’t feel well
If you have head pain, stomach cramps or other types of discomfort, it could be a sign that something has been left in your body. For instance, your surgeon may have left sponges, scissors or other items inside of you after a procedure is complete. In some cases, it may be necessary to have a second surgery to remove an item and take care of any secondary problems the mistake may have caused.
You’re missing a body part
Unless you were expecting to have a foot, leg or arm amputated, you shouldn’t wake up missing a body part. If this is true in your case, it is a clear sign that your surgeon made a mistake. Assuming that the surgeon received accurate instructions prior to an operation, the error may rise to the level of medical malpractice.
The wrong part was operated on
If your doctor says that you need surgery on your left knee, you expect to see scars or other evidence that your left knee was operated on. However, it’s possible that the person performing your procedure will operate on the right knee instead. This may occur even if the ailing body part was circled or otherwise labeled as the one that needed work.
Victims of medical malpractice may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other damages related to a surgeon’s misconduct. You may be able to use doctor notes, surgeon statements or other evidence to verify that a mistake was made and that it should have been avoided. Malpractice cases may be settled outside of court or by taking your case to trial.