Colorectal Surgery Malpractice Is More Common Than You Think

Colon and rectal surgeries, collectively referred to as colorectal surgeries, account for about 24% of all general surgery cases and about 15% of the physicians in this field face medical malpractice lawsuits each year. A study published in the Journal of Surgical Research analyzed 122 medical malpractice lawsuits and found that the most common cause of alleged malpractice was failure to recognize a complication in a timely manner (45.1%) followed by damage to surrounding tissues (36.1%)

There is a risk of complication with any kind of surgical procedure. As soon as a person is put under anesthesia and a physician makes an incision, there is room for all manner of complications and mistakes such as:

• Allergic reaction to anesthesia
• Anesthesia error
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Peritonitis (infection of the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen)
• Organ perforation
• Incisional hernias

Complications that can occur after colorectal surgery

Some of the functional outcomes of colorectal surgery might include issues such as:

• Bowel dysfunction
• Low anterior resection syndrome (includes frequency/urgency of stools, stool incontinence, constipation then frequent bowel movements, increased gas)
• Sexual dysfunction
• Urinary symptoms
• Stool leakage

Whether your physician used the open procedure for your colorectal surgery, or the minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopic, each carries its own set of risks. A serious mistake during this very common but extremely delicate surgery might mean that the patient must use a colostomy bag for a while after surgery or on a more permanent basis.

Medical malpractice for complications following colorectal surgery

If you are now suffering from the painful (and to many people, embarrassing) complications of a colorectal surgical procedure, you may be able to take legal action against the physician and any other responsible parties. Sometimes mistakes happen during surgery, but sometimes those mistakes are considered preventable medical errors.

Medical malpractice arises out of the physician’s duty of care to their patient, and the breach of that duty that causes the patient’s injury and damages. To prevail in a medical malpractice lawsuit, you as the plaintiff, must be able to prove that the medical professional’s negligence was the direct cause of your injury. If you prevail, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and emotional distress.

If your colorectal surgical procedure was botched, you could be in a position where the cure is worse than the discomfort you were experiencing prior to the surgery.

Please contact Paulson & Nace, PLLC through this contact form or by calling 202-463-1999.