Plastic surgery medical malpractice is a serious problem in the United States, responsible for thousands of deaths and injuries every year.  Elective surgery for everything from face lifts to weight loss procedures has become so common in our modern society that more medical injuries naturally are the outcome.  Because plastic surgery is so popular in our society, people forget that every surgery, including plastic surgery carries with it a risk of serious injury or death.

Plastic surgery procedures include breast augmentation, face lifts, lipo suction, rhinoplasty or what is commonly referred to as a “nose job”; and bariatric surgeries including laparoscopic or what is commonly referred to as lap band, gastric bypass, and stomach stapling.

One item most people don’t think about when considering plastic surgery is the risk of injury from medical negligence. One particular area where many medical malpractice lawsuits occur are elective plastic surgery procedures performed outside the hospital setting, where access to a board certified anesthesiologist, specialized doctors, or critical care nurses are usually not available.  The anesthetist who has complete control over the patient’s breathing, heart rate, and all critical life functions during a surgery can cause a serious injury or death to a patient if they are inexperienced at their job, do not screen a patient thoroughly before surgery, or simply make a mistake and do not know how to correct it.  Anesthesia injuries and medical monitoring mistakes are among the most frequent reasons patients are seriously injured or die after surgery.

Anesthesia malpractice can happen during plastic surgery because the medical staff may be improperly trained, miscommunicate with each other, or from failure of the doctor and anesthetist to thoroughly study the medical records of the patient, thus missing any warning signs before proceeding with the operation.  For example, certain medications may put the patient in danger, because the patient is taking other medications that are not compatible, or the patient may have an allergic reaction toward certain medications.

Another complication that can happen during routine plastic surgery, especially in environments outside of a hospital setting such as a doctor’s office or surgical center, is an unforeseen medical emergency.  If this happens outside a hospital, the medical facility likely does not have access to the proper equipment and medical personnel to deal with the unique emergency.  The patient may be kept waiting many agonizing minutes for an ambulance to arrive and be taken to a hospital.  During this period, the patient’s medical condition may rapidly deteriorate, resulting in severe brain injuries or death. 

Dr. Bruce G. Fagel has successfully handled many medical malpractice cases involving plastic surgery and other elective surgeries.  Dr. Fagel has extensive experience examining medical records, even in cases where the medical records were altered or simply disappeared or the medical staff “did not remember” what happened.  Dr. Fagel knows how to find the answers and prove medical malpractice occurred in a medical malpractice case.  If you or a family member have been seriously injured or died from complications during elective surgery, contact The Law Offices of Dr. Bruce G. Fagel & Associates right away at (800) 541-9376.  The consultation is free and there is never a fee unless Dr. Fagel wins your case.  

To view an informative plastic surgery malpractice video please visit the link.

Visit us on Facebook and Twitter:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birthinjury
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fagellaw