Post-Surgery Infection Results in Lawsuit

Though medical science has come a long way in recent years, having surgery–or even just visiting a doctor–can be incredibly stressful. Patients put a lot of trust in their doctors, which is why it’s crucial that practitioners act in a scrupulous manner. Even the smallest act of negligence in a hospital can have disastrous and even tragic results.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice in New Orleans, don’t wait to speak with an attorney. At the The Bowling Law Firm, we have extensive experience identifying medical malpractice, and we have handled various forms of it, from misinterpreting X-rays to making prescription drug errors.

If you need a malpractice attorney in Louisiana, call our office at (504) 586-5200 to schedule an initial consultation with a qualified attorney today.

Man Sues Doctor After Contracting an Infection Post-Surgery

Most people already know that hospitals tend to be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, which is why surgeons want to get patients in and out of care as quickly as possible. According to the Louisiana Record, one man is suing his doctor after contracting a serious infection post-surgery. The man contends that he checked into the medical center in July of 2010 to undergo a urological surgery.

The patient claims that while he was under anesthesia, someone shaved him without any prior notice. When he awoke after surgery, he found what he believed at the time were ingrown hair follicles. Within one day, though, the plaintiff claims the area became incredibly swollen.

His doctor told him to put some ice on the area, but the patient claims that three weeks later, he had to have emergency surgery so doctors could remove necrotic tissue from the affected area. During surgery, they were able to diagnose him with gangrene, which was caused by a methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus infection. The patient claims he then had to undergo three weeks of recovery in a nursing home and is now suing his original surgeon for failing to provide proper medical care.

Patient Sues Hospital Over Stroke During Surgery

According to Louisiana’s Legal Journal, a patient is suing a New Orleans hospital with the claim that he underwent a stroke during surgery. The man claims he started experiencing chest pains in 2003 and was eventually diagnosed with acid reflux. In 2004, he underwent surgery to fix blockages in his arteries, and he had a successful open-heart surgery a short time after that.

The patient then had to change practitioners because of a switch in insurance providers, and he now claims that under his new practitioner’s care, he did not receive sufficient cardiac monitoring. In August of 2009, his chest pains allegedly came back, and his new general practitioner referred him to a cardiologist who diagnosed him with coronary artery disease in 2012 and eventually recommended surgery. While undergoing surgery in 2013, the man suffered a stroke, which he blames on the cardiologist’s negligence during the procedure. The man can no longer move the left side of his body and is now suing for loss of companionship, society and consortium.

If you or someone you love has suffered at the hands of a medical practitioner, we may be able to help. Call our office today at (504) 586-5200 to arrange an initial consultation.