When Plastic Surgery Errors Lead to Medical Malpractice
Plastic surgeries are usually elective procedures women and men undergo to improve their personal appearance. Sometimes they are necessary to correct the consequences from a serious accident, such as a fire that caused disfiguring burns. When you go under the knife, you expect your surgeon to be competent and professional. A simple mistake before, during, or after your operation could have potentially deadly consequences.
Types of plastic surgeries
Cosmetic surgery is a lucrative and attractive field for physicians. It is especially popular in high income areas. Yet, sometimes a doctor will go into the business without proper knowledge or training, leading to patient harm. A few common plastic surgery procedures that may involve negligence include:
- Breast augmentation
- Eyelid surgery
- Liposuction
- Facelifts
- Laser hair removal
- Skin peels
- Neck-lifts
- Rhinoplasty (“nose job”)
You may also visit a medical spa that offers Botox injections, fillers, or lip injections. Incorrectly injecting a patient can be extremely hazardous.
How can medical malpractice occur in terms of plastic surgery?
Medical malpractice is committed when a doctor fails apply a standard of care that all plastic surgeons are required to adhere to; and that failure subsequently causes harm to the patient.
Examples of medical malpractice in plastic surgery procedures are:
- Failing to obtain informed consent. Surgeons have a duty to explain the known risks of plastic surgery to their patients and get an acknowledgement in writing that the patient understands the risks.
- Failing to obtain a full medical history. Your doctor needs to know about your allergies, past procedures, current medical problems, and a full list of medications you take. The physician should be diligent in recording this information, and should not perform a surgery that could be dangerous.
- Surgical errors. Mistakes may include failing to administer the right amount of anesthesia, operating on a wrong body part, or leaving instruments in the patient’s body. In some cases, the doctor will perform the operation incorrectly and leave undesirable results. A medical malpractice lawyer can help determine if these surgical mistakes are egregious enough to warrant legal proceedings.
Tragically, plastic surgery mistakes could lead to:
- Scarring that is not normal for the type of procedure being performed
- Infections, nerve damage, and tissue damage
- Swelling and bruising that does not subside with time
- Disfigurement
- Skin discoloration
- Pneumonia
- Excessive bleeding
- Death
To learn more about plastic surgery malpractice, please contact Paulson & Nace, PLLC through this contact form or by phoning 202-463-1999.
Related Articles
- Surgical Malpractice – “Never Events” That Occur Too Often
- Nurse “Burnout” Leads to Dangerous Medical Mistakes
- Seven Emergency Surgical Procedures Account for 80% of Medical Complications and Deaths
- What Is the Difference Between Medical Malpractice and Medical Battery?
- Medical Malpractice and the Risks of Unnecessary Surgery
- Medical Malpractice for Failure to Treat a Medical Condition
- What to Consider Before Filing a Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
For more than 40 years, Barry J. Nace has worked to protect the rights of victims of medical malpractice and other personal injuries. Throughout his career, he has proven that multimillion-dollar awards are not a matter of luck, but the result of experience, hard work, outstanding trial skills, and an unquestioned dedication to justice. To date, Mr. Nace has produced dozens of verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million with three in excess of $30 million. Read more about Barry J. Nace.