While post-procedure discomfort accompanies many types of surgeries, no operation should leave a patient with an unintentional or unforeseen complication. A Tarpon Springs post-operative complications lawyer could appreciate how skeptical you may be of the health care system and how you may have suffered physically, mentally, and financially. Working with a local surgical malpractice attorney could help you get a handle on what legal options you may have against the party responsible for your injuries.
Post-Operative Complications Explained
Some types of discomfort routinely plague those who have undergone surgery. This may include nausea and vomiting, throat soreness, sleeplessness, pain around an incision site, and flatulence or constipation. However, more severe consequences known as post-operative complications can leave patients in a far worse position than they would have been in without the surgery. While medicine is far from a perfect science, physicians assess, and care facilities try to minimize risk to patients.
Sometimes, a lack of oversight may lead to unintentional consequences, possibly weakening an already-vulnerable person. Common complications include:
- Wound infection
- Shock
- Hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary complications
- Urine retention
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
Wound infection is an all-too-common complication that occurs when bacteria enters a surgery site. It is dangerous because it can attack nearby tissues and organs, or spread via the body’s bloodstream.
Shock, though it may manifest very differently person to person, occurs when there is a dangerous drop in blood flow within the body, usually caused by a corresponding decrease in blood pressure. Shock might escalate to a life-threatening situation when something is amiss during or after a procedure.
Hemorrhages, or bleeding, could be internal or at a surgery site. Whether medical staff can work quickly and effectively to stop the blood loss is the critical question. Finally, deep vein thrombosis or blood clots can occur in deep internal veins. Clots that form may be innocuous in a leg or an arm, but they could break free, and travel through the body potentially causing stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism.
In a Tarpon Springs post-operative complications case, legal counsel could investigate the cause of the medical error, determine who is liable for the injuries, and help build a case against those accountable. Medicine is rarely straightforward, so hiring an attorney to help deconstruct the issues leading to a person’s injuries can be critical to its success.
When to File a Tarpon Springs Post-Operative Complications Lawsuit
In addition to the substantive law and procedures of the court, there also deadlines that plaintiffs must observe. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(4)(b), and in the case of post-operative complications, a plaintiff has two years from the date of the incident that caused harm, or the date that the harm should have been discovered, if it was not immediately evident.
However, the should-have-been-discovered grace period ends four years from the date of the initial harm, meaning that no medical malpractice lawsuit can be brought later than that, with a few exceptions. Interpreting the statute of limitations may be less than straightforward as there may be several important dates in a plaintiff’s timeline. Consulting an experienced Tarpon Springs post-operative complications attorney could help their client resolve concerns regarding the statute of limitations deadline.
Speak to a Tarpon Springs Post-Operative Complications Attorney Today
Though dealing with further medical complications can be dizzying for a sick or injured person and their family, claims do not last indefinitely. A lawyer could help you understand your prospects and act in a way that makes sense given your circumstances.
Legal counsel could help you seek reimbursement for your medical expenses, lost income, future limitations, and the physical pain and mental anguish you have borne. Reach out to a Tarpon Springs post-operative complications lawyer today to get started on your case.
