FAQs about Wrong Amputation and Malpractice Claims in New York

According to statistics, about 185,000 amputations are conducted each year in the United States. Nearly 2 million people in the country are living with some form of limb loss. The main causes of these amputations are 54% vascular disease (including peripheral arterial disease and diabetes), 45% trauma and lastly, cancer, which is the cause of 2% of these amputations.

It has been found that nearly 50% of the people who undergo amputation as a result of vascular disease could die within a span of just 5 years. This is significantly steeper than the 5-year mortality rates for colon cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

Common Questions about Wrong Amputation

Here is a look at some of the most common questions about wrong amputation and medical negligence in New York:

Q1: Prior to a surgery, patients usually have their skin marked, serving as an indicator for the surgical team as to where the procedure needs to be performed. However, there are many instances when patients are marked incorrectly.

For example, a doctor may mark a left testicle, but it is actually the right one that needs to be removed. This may occur because one of the healthcare team members did not pay proper attention to the medical notes, or because the medical note contained conflicting instructions or the team member had a lapse in concentration. There are also cases in which patients were marked correctly, but still went through a wrong-site amputation.

Q2: What action can I take if I have had a wrong amputation?

A: If the wrong part of your body has been amputated, it is important that you take action as soon as you notice the error. This may be some time after the surgery is done or it may be shortly after you become conscious from the anesthetic. The former is particularly common in patients who underwent an internal operation, as they will only be aware of the error made when their health problems persist.

When you find out that you have been wrongly amputated, the first thing is to make an official complaint to the healthcare service that performed the surgery. This will ensure a full investigation of your treatment. The hospital will then send you a detailed report explaining why you suffered at the medical staff's hand.

Q3: Can I sue for the wrong amputation I suffered?

A: Yes. After receiving the hospital's response, you should immediately contact a legal expert. Wrong amputation is a serious breach of duty, meaning that you were given a substandard level of care by the medical team. If you are injured due to poor levels of care, you are legally entitled to file a medical negligence claim against the medical team that treated you.

Get Legal Expertise in New York for Wrong Amputation

If you or a loved one in New York has suffered injury due to wrong amputation, you should immediately seek the help of the skilled and experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000.

Give RMFW Law today! Bring your medical records with you. Let's see if your case is viable or not. If so, we have the medical expert/s to back up your claim since that is required to defeat a case like this. There is no reason to scream or be upset with the hospital staff, it is not their fault. This is a legal matter now.