If you have been the victim of an accidental surgical burn, you may receive financial compensation.
Our medical malpractice lawyers in Columbia represent victims in compensation claims for surgical errors. To see what your case may be worth, call 803-978-6111 or message us now.
Legal Claim for Accidental Burns During Surgery
A surgical burn is human tissue damage from heat, flame, or corrosion. It is a burn to the skin or other parts of the body that occurs during surgery.
An accidental surgical burn may be the basis of a legal claim for compensation. The claim is that the burn amounts to medical malpractice. It would not have occurred but for a lack of skill or care on the part of the surgical team, which fell below professional standards.
At Rikard & Protopapas, we handle compensation claims involving accidental surgical burns.
You may have the right to monetary payment for damages. Our experienced lawyers can represent you, bringing your claim and seeking your compensation.
To learn more and start today, contact us for your consultation.
Causes of Surgical Burns
Causes of surgical burns may include:
- Laser
- Heat
- Electrical source
- Chemicals
- Hot liquids
- Radiation (IORT – Intraoperative Radiation Therapy)
- Electromagnetic sources, including ultrasound, microwaves
- Alcohol-based skin preparation
- Operating light
- Other surgical equipment
If we represent you, we thoroughly investigate the causes of the burn that occurred.
Why Do Surgical Burns Occur?
Accidental surgical burn may be the result of:
- Inattention during surgery
- Failing to monitor the patient
- Poor surgical procedure, lack of knowledge
- Inexperience, failing to recognize warning signs
- Practices for storing and preparing equipment
- Inadvertent contact between an instrument or heat source and the patient
- Not having enough people present, or failing to clearly assign tasks
There may be multiple reasons that a surgical burn occurred. We will investigate what happened and the actions of each party.
Harm from Surgical Burns
A surgical burn is a complication that needs its own treatment. While a patient is recovering from surgery, they are also recovering from an unanticipated burn. A surgical burn may require:
- Additional surgery
- Debridement, removal of unhealthy tissue
- Skin grafting
There is a risk of complications including infection and pneumonia. Burn specialists should be involved early in care.
Getting Compensated for an Accidental Surgical Burn
To claim compensation for an accidental surgical burn, you must prove:
- A burn occurred
- The burn was the result of inadequate medical care
- You suffered an injury
- The compensation you deserve
The law that applies to an accidental surgical burn is medical malpractice law. The question is whether the burn resulted from substandard medical care. The standard is doing what a reasonable practitioner wouldn’t do, or failing to do what a reasonable practitioner would do.
The legal standard looks at what happened and compares it to reasonable behavior in the same or similar circumstances.
While there are accepted risks in surgery, accidental surgical burns generally should not occur.
Medical care providers must take steps to mitigate the risk of a burn. As lawyers, we work with medical experts to investigate what happened and professional standards.
Lawyers for Compensating Accidental Burns
As lawyers who pursue compensation for surgical errors like burns, we investigate the following:
- What steps were taken before surgery?
- How did the events of the surgery unfold?
- Who was present?
- What equipment was used?
- Were normal procedures followed?
- Did any equipment malfunction?
- Is there a previous history of incidents?
- How was the response when a burn occurred?
- Could the burn have been prevented?
Our team investigates the surgery itself and what happened before and after. We work with experts to explain medical information and the harm that resulted to the victim. Our team understands the economic and non-economic damages available under the law. We work efficiently on your claim, representing your interests and pursuing your compensation.
Talk to a Lawyer for Surgical Errors in Columbia
If you’ve been harmed by an accidental surgical burn, we invite you to talk to a medical malpractice lawyer at Rikard & Protopapas. You may deserve monetary compensation for an accidental surgical burn. Our lawyers can take the steps on your behalf to claim it. We’ll investigate, take legal action, and represent you in your claim.
For a free consultation, and to start your case, call 803-978-6111 or message us now.