Going in for surgery is never a pleasant experience. When you wake up from the anesthesia and find out that you have new nerve damage, however, that’s another story. Unfortunately, this happens more frequently than you might expect.
Sometimes what patients think is nerve damage is actually the effects of anesthesia, or temporary issues due to inflammation. These circumstances resolve themselves on their own or with minimal intervention. If, however, the pain is severe, persistent and/or limits your mobility or function, it may be due to malpractice.
If you’ve come out of surgery with nerve damage, read on. A personal injury attorney can help you get compensation for your suffering.
When Medical Professionals Cause Nerve Damage
There are two main ways doctors can cause nerve damage: improperly administering anesthesia, or a physical medical error during the surgery.
When administering anesthesia, anesthesiologists must take care not to contact nerves. This applies whether they are administering local anesthesia with a syringe, regional anesthesia in the spinal column, or improperly positioning a nerve during general anesthesia.
Physical errors can include cutting a nerve, contacting them with surgical instruments, or otherwise physically damaging the nerves while operating.
Nerve damage can result in lifetime pain and suffering. Patients may be subject to excruciating pain or lose sensory ability.
Proving Medical Malpractice
Proving medical negligence is a matter of showing that the medical professional did not meet a reasonable standard of care. In other words, if the average doctor in the same situation would have done something different, the defendant doctor’s care falls short. You’ll also need to prove that the nerve damage caused actual harm. This could include additional surgeries needed, physical therapy, pain relief, loss of function, time off work and related harm.
Since patients usually suffer pain and rehabilitation after surgery, it’s important that you prove the doctor’s lack of care exacerbated the issues. This can be a challenge. For example, some nerve damage is minor—yet still life altering. A plaintiff probably wouldn’t be able to recover significant compensation here. Serious nerve damage is easier to prove in court, and naturally includes a higher level of damages when the case settles or you win at trial.
If you’ve been the victim of medical malpractice, call an attorney right away. Don’t miss out on your chance to sue by letting the statute of limitations run out.
Discuss Your Case with an Ohio Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
When you’ve suffered nerve damage due to negligent doctors, I’ll Make Them Pay!® You may be able to recover damages for your losses. I can help, whether your case settles out of court or goes to trial. Call me today at 877.944.4373 for a consultation.
