Q: If my appendix burst because the hospital waited over 8 hours to do my surgery, Do I have a case?
My original CAT scan showed my appendix was still intact. I waited between 8-12 hours for my surgery to take place even though they knew I was having pain for 3 days previously & there was a chance my appendix could perforate. It did & I had a bad gangrenous infection & had to stay in the hospital for 4 days instead of going home that day. I had to go home with a drain & alot of pain. I had a much longer recovery (am still recovering). Appendicitis is supposed to be a medical emergency but it was not treated as such.
A: Yes it is possible this is malpractice. Another doctor would need to review the records and determine if the health care providers breached the standard of care in the delay and if that delay caused your damages. Additionally, the nature and extent of your harm will determine the viability of a case. Consult with experienced medical malpractice attorneys in the State where this occurred.
A: A North Carolina attorney could advise best, but as a general matter, you could try to set up a free initial consult. I'm sorry for your ordeal. I hope you are okay. If an attorney felt you had grounds for a claim, they could retrieve your records and review with a medical professional. Attorneys rely on medical professionals to help them make such calls. Good luck
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