Errors can occur before surgical procedures begin

It isn’t unusual for patients and their loved ones to worry about what will happen during surgery. Even minor or frequently performed surgical procedures can make patients nervous. However, as some Louisiana residents have discovered, it is possible for mistakes to be made before the first incision is made.

A Philadelphia woman filed a malpractice suit after anesthesia for her dental surgery was improperly administered resulting in permanent nerve damage. In her lawsuit, the woman claims that a nurse struck a nerve on the left side of the patient’s tongue directly when she carelessly injected the anesthetic into the patient’s mouth before the procedure. The suit also claims that the doctor was informed that a nerve had been struck but did not have the needle removed and instead chose to continue administering the anesthesia.

After the procedure, the victim suffered from excessive bleeding, numbness and loss of taste in the area where the anesthesia was administered, as well as general pain and discomfort. The woman also suffers from dysgeusia, a permanent metallic taste in the mouth, and her speech pattern was significantly altered. She is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages for her injuries.

Seemingly small errors made before or during surgical procedures can have long lasting or even permanent effects on the lives of patients. Louisiana residents who have suffered injuries as a result of medical malpractice could benefit from speaking with an attorney. It may be possible for a lawyer to help victims receive compensation for additional and unexpected medical costs, pain and suffering, or loss of income. If a loved one died as a result of malpractice or negligence then it may also be possible for the family to receive compensation for funeral costs.

Source: pennrecord.com, “Lawsuit: Improper administration of dental anesthetic left plaintiff with permanent nerve damage“, Nicholas Malfitano, Nov. 29, 2017