How Medical Malpractice Can Lead to Amputation

Diagnostic Errors

All medical conditions require an accurate and complete diagnosis before treatment. That is the only way your physician can know, for example, the extent of your injury and which medical intervention suits it best. Thus, diagnostic errors can lead to serious medical complications, including amputation. Below are three examples of such diagnostic errors.

1. Delayed Diagnosis

In this case, the doctor diagnoses your condition after a long time. The diagnostic delay worsens the condition, and you eventually lose your limb.

2. Wrong Diagnosis

In this case, the doctor diagnoses your condition in time, but the diagnosis is incorrect. An incorrect diagnosis means the doctor won't be treating the appropriate issue. The wrong treatment might allow your condition to worsen and force an amputation.

3. No Diagnosis

Missed diagnosis arises if the doctor fails to diagnose your condition at all. In such a case, the doctor may treat your symptoms or offer you no treatment at all. Again, the ensuing complications can lead to loss of limb.

Surgical Errors

If your condition requires surgical intervention, a surgical mistake might cause you to lose your limb. Below are four examples of such surgical mistakes.

1. Wrong-Part Surgery

Complications arise if a surgical team member makes a mistake and the surgeon operations on the wrong limb. Maybe the operation was supposed to remove a tumor in your leg, but a miscommunication causes the surgeon to amputate the leg.

2. Surgical Contamination

The surgical room, its occupants, and all surgical instruments should be sterile. Contamination, say of a surgical instrument, can lead to a serious infection that might even necessitate an amputation later.

3. Improper Monitoring

Surgical patients require constant and accurate monitoring during surgery. The surgical team must confirm, for example, that the relevant parts of the body are getting adequate blood and oxygen. Improper monitoring can damage a limb to the extent that the doctors cannot save it.

4. Delayed or Improper Intervention

In some cases, a surgical team notices a mistake, error, or injury but doesn't intervene appropriately or in time. An example is if the surgical team doesn't intervene in time to deal with a pinched nerve. Amputation might be necessary for the worst-case scenario.

Postoperative Complications

Medical complications can arise even after the surgery. That is why surgical patients need monitoring after their surgeries. Mistakes during your post-operative care can also lead to complications that end in amputation. Below are two examples of such risks.

1. No or Improper Monitoring

Health care professionals make a mistake when they don't follow up with patients after surgery. For example, without postoperative care, you might not even know whether your recovery is on track or you need additional interventions. If you are unlucky, you might only learn about the complications if it is too late and you must lose the limb.

2. Infections

The surgical site must always be clean. Depending on your condition, your medical team may be responsible for the surgical site's cleanliness for some time after your surgery. Unhygienic care can lead to an infection that might necessitate an amputation. An example is if a medical professional uses contaminated materials or instruments to dress your wound.

Medical malpractice cases tend to be more complicated than other cases. The rules are different, the subject matter is technical, and the damages tend to be high. Fortunately, Wegner & Associates has the experience to handle all types of medical malpractice cases. We have decades of experience in the industry. Contact us for a consultation to review your case.