Surgery is often necessary to treat serious medical conditions and improve a patient’s quality of life. Some surgeries do the opposite. When surgical teams fail to exercise proper care, patients experience complications rather than healing.
If you suffered harm because of a preventable surgical mistake, you may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim. A Las Cruces medical malpractice lawyer at Coates & Johnson can help you investigate what happened and pursue compensation for the harm you have suffered. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
Why Patients in Las Cruces Hire Coates & Johnson for Surgical Negligence Cases
Surgical malpractice claims require a law firm with the experience and resources necessary to investigate complex medical procedures and hold powerful surgeons and healthcare facilities liable for their negligence.
Patients across Las Cruces, New Mexico, trust Coates & Johnson because:
- Our practice focuses exclusively on medical malpractice cases.
- Our attorneys have handled thousands of cases involving negligent surgical and medical care.
- One of our founding trial lawyers is also a physician who understands surgical decision-making.
- Our partners are involved with every client and provide oversight and strategic representation in every case.
- We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation.
Over the course of our decades-long careers, we have prosecuted virtually every type of surgical negligence case imaginable. Many of these cases involve procedures on the colon or gallbladder, which are among the most common surgeries performed in hospitals.
We understand how devastating surgical mistakes can be. Contact us today to schedule a free case review with an esteemed Las Cruces surgical errors lawyer to discuss your case.
What Are Surgical Errors?
Every patient who enters a surgical procedure knows there could be complications. Some risks cannot be avoided even when healthcare providers follow proper standards of care.
At the same time, many complications happen when a surgeon or member of the surgical team fails to adhere to proper medical standards. These generally are avoidable and can trigger the right to a medical malpractice claim.
Common surgical errors that lead to medical negligence claims include:
- Performing the wrong procedure or operating on the wrong body part
- Leaving surgical instruments or sponges inside the patient
- Causing avoidable injury to surrounding organs, nerves, or blood vessels
- Failing to properly monitor a patient during surgery
- Improper administration of anesthesia
- Failure to recognize and treat surgical complications on time
- Failure to properly diagnose internal injuries following surgery
When these injuries are not promptly recognized and treated, patients can develop life-threatening complications.
Surgical Errors Involving the Colon and Gallbladder
Many surgical negligence claims involve procedures involving the colon or gallbladder.
For example, colonoscopies are widely performed diagnostic procedures, but they can cause severe injuries if performed improperly. One of the most serious complications is a bowel perforation, where surgical instruments create a hole in the colon. When this occurs, bacteria from the bowel can enter the normally sterile abdominal cavity, potentially causing sepsis, abscesses, and life-threatening infections if not promptly treated.
Similarly, bowel surgery may involve reconnecting segments of the intestine after removing diseased tissue. If this connection—known as an anastomosis—fails, intestinal contents can leak into the abdominal cavity. These leaks can cause severe infections, abscess formation, and sepsis if surgeons fail to recognize and treat the problem quickly.
Gallbladder removal surgery, known as a cholecystectomy, is another common procedure where surgical mistakes can occur. Surgeons must carefully identify key anatomical structures before cutting or clipping tissues. Failing to follow accepted techniques, such as the “Critical View of Safety,” can lead to bile duct injuries and other serious complications.
Who May Be Responsible for a Surgical Error?
Surgery rarely involves just one healthcare provider. Instead, it typically requires a coordinated team of professionals working together in the operating room and during postoperative care.
Under New Mexico law, multiple parties may share responsibility for a surgical error, including:
- Surgeons who performed the procedure
- Anesthesiologists responsible for anesthesia administration and monitoring
- Nurses or surgical assistants who participated in the operation
- Operating room staff involved in preparation or patient monitoring
- Hospitals or surgical centers that allowed unsafe practices or inadequate supervision
Patients who suffer injuries due to surgical negligence may be entitled to compensation for both the financial and personal consequences of the injury. Our attorneys work with medical experts and financial professionals to evaluate the full impact of these injuries and pursue compensation that reflects the true scope of the harm.
Why Hire an Attorney for a Surgical Error Case in Las Cruces?
Surgical error claims are among the most complex types of medical malpractice cases. They get to the very heart of highly technical medical procedures and investigate complex decision chains that lead to a patient injury. Legal and medical expertise is often a necessity to evaluate and prove these claims.
An experienced surgical error lawyer in Las Cruces can help you navigate your case by:
- Investigating the circumstances surrounding your surgery
- Reviewing medical records and surgical documentation to determine what went wrong
- Hiring leading medical experts to establish the applicable standard of care and your damages
- Naming all healthcare providers or institutions responsible for the errors as defendants in your case
- Calculating the full value of your damages — past, current, and future
- Negotiating with insurance companies that attempt to undervalue your claim
- Filing a lawsuit and preparing your case for trial if necessary
A top-rated surgical errors attorney in Las Cruces will take the lead in all aspects of your case and ensure your voice is heard and your experience acknowledged. Contact our team today to learn more about how we can strengthen your claim.
Speak With a Las Cruces Surgical Errors Lawyer Today to Get Started
Patients trust surgeons and hospitals to perform procedures safely and competently. When they don’t, patients suffer the consequences. If you believe a surgical error caused your injuries, you deserve justice and financial compensation that fully accounts for the losses you’ve experienced.
Coates & Johnson has decades of experience handling cases involving surgical errors. We can help you navigate your claim. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Las Cruces surgical errors lawyer to learn more about taking legal action.