As I frequently say, the devil is in the details.
In a recent Massachusetts medical malpractice case in which the plaintiff was awarded a $350,000 settlement, both parties involved in the dispute argued whether the patient’s health problems were the result of a robotic surgery, or simply a case of hemorrhoids.
The settlement was the result of a botched surgery. The female patient underwent a robotic-assisted total hysterectomy and ovary removal for uterine fibroids and cysts. In the process of removing her uterus, the doctors also wound up damaging a substantial part of her sigmoid colon. This required an emergency loop ileostomy, in which she had to live with an ostomy bag so that waste could be drained. The patient was going to testify that she was never explained the risks of robotic surgery. This is that “small detail” which, in effect, turned out to be quite huge.
Her injuries included damage to her colon, subsequent pain and bleeding, and ongoing depression. A conclusion was made by a practicing OB/GYN with extensive experience in robotic surgery. He said that the doctors had failed to properly visualize her organs in order to avoid the injury. He also revealed that he believed that the physicians had little training and experience in robotic surgery.
If you have suffered from medical malpractice – everything from failure to diagnose cancer, to prescription medication errors, to nursing home negligence – we are experienced Massachusetts medical malpractice attorneys who can assist you.
We are experienced Boston, Massachusetts medical malpractice lawyers who practice in all courts in eastern Massachusetts. As such, we can tell you that the truth on this subject is that almost 100,000 patients die each year from medical errors.
This patient, at the very least, did not lose her life.