The prospect of facing surgery is a frightening one, which should not be made even more troublesome by concerns of negligence by surgeons and hospital staff. Yet, for many patients, routine surgery turns into a nightmare when they discover that one of the most basic elements of hospital safety, the use of sterile surgical instruments, has been neglected.
An Orlando dirty surgical instruments lawyer can help victims hold negligent hospitals and staff accountable for these life-altering mistakes. Contact us today to discuss your potential medical malpractice claim.
Life-Threatening Risks
Surgical site infections caused by the use of dirty instruments can mean excruciating pain, prolonged recovery, loss of limbs or organs, and even death. Dirty surgical instruments do not always cause infections at the surgery site. Patients may have to face the horror of exposure to diseases such as:
- HIV
- Hepatitis
- Syphilis
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (mad cow disease)
Even when initial test results are negative, these diseases may not show themselves for many months. Patients live in fear of life-threatening illness for themselves and the possibility of exposing loved ones. If you’ve been exposed, an Orlando dirty surgical instruments attorney can assist you in seeking justice and compensation.
How Does Surgical Equipment Get Infected?
There are a variety of circumstances that can lead to the use of dirty surgical instruments. Hospitals have a duty to maintain policies and procedures that will ensure patient safety, including proper sterilization procedures. Some hospitals try to cut corners by reusing instruments intended for one-time use. In some cases, a breakdown in procedure or simple human error can be the cause.
Even when adequate policies and procedures are in place and followed properly, equipment failure can be the culprit.
- Inadequate policies and procedures
- Failure to follow procedures
- Failed sterilization equipment
- Reusing one time use instruments
- Intentional misconduct
- Failure to properly count instruments after surgery
- Accidentally or intentionally using instruments that were used for a previous surgery
When a hospital discovers that dirty instruments may have been used, it has a responsibility to inform any and all patients who may have been affected, to immediately begin testing for any possible infections, and to take preventative actions, such as prescribing antibiotics, in case exposure occurred. This could be the result of discovering a specific error that affected only one patient, or it could be something less definite, such as a possible failure of sterilization equipment, which may have affected many patients who were treated during a certain time period. Patients should never be asked or expected to pay for testing or treatment required in these types of cases.
Compensation in Medical Negligence Cases
Each case is unique. Even when hospitals act quickly to minimize or prevent injury, they are still responsible for the results of their errors. Some hospitals will try to hide their mistakes, prolonging treatment and increasing the chance of life-threatening infections.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to the use of dirty surgical instruments, you may be entitled to compensation,n including:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future loss of income
- Loss of limbs or organs
- Long-term disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Burial expenses
If you have been injured by the use of dirty surgical instruments, chances are others have suffered or will suffer a similar fate at the hands of the negligent facility. Often, these types of errors are only addressed when victims take action and seek compensation.
Contact an Orlando Dirty Surgical Instruments Attorney at Our Firm
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to the use of dirty surgical instruments, please contact an Orlando dirty surgical instruments lawyer today. Call (407) 712-7300 or contact Colling Gilbert Wright online today for a complimentary review of your claim.