What if, one day, you realized that the pain in your body came from something left behind during a successful operation? It seems like a nightmare, but the negligence of a healthcare professional, whether a doctor or nurse, can lead to long-lasting effects, even eventual death.
Unprofessionalism on the medical table
While horrifying to think about, the nightmare is real, and patients have been exposed to this type of medical unprofessionalism. There are documented cases of surgeons and nurses leaving gauzes, sponges or even a sharp object inside a patient.
It usually starts out as a negligible pain near the operated area in the body after a successful surgery. The patient usually attributes it as an aftereffect of the operation and continues through recovery. Months or years after the operation, complications occur that may not be related to the foreign object. Oftentimes, the patient’s health deteriorates before discovering anything else. For some, it becomes too late for any successful intervention.
Medical malpractice and its implications
Medical malpractice happens when healthcare providers breach their duty to care for patients. This includes errors in diagnosis, treatment, medication or surgical procedures and can manifest in several ways, including:
- Physical injuries
- Emotional trauma
- Financial difficulty
- Loss of trust
While surgeries carry unavoidable risks, as patients, we entrust ourselves to the skills and capacities of our surgeon. Breaking this trust allows us the right for compensation and reprieve.
Pursuing justice and compensation
If the malpractice is far-reaching and profoundly distressing and that legal action is the only way to proceed, we must hold the institution and the people involved accountable. When faced with the consequences of medical malpractice, it is vital to have the proper support so you can fight for your rights and seek the compensation you deserve.