Q: Does a person have a case if a surgeon hits an artery during surgery which causes a vascular surgeon to come in to fix?

A: Determining whether a person has a legal case against a surgeon who inadvertently caused a complication during surgery, such as damaging an artery, depends on several factors. These factors typically revolve around the concepts of medical negligence or malpractice. Here are key considerations in such situations:

Standard of Care: In medical malpractice cases, the key question often revolves around whether the surgeon adhered to the accepted standard of care. This standard is based on what a reasonably competent surgeon would have done under similar circumstances. Surgery inherently carries risks, and complications can occur even when the surgeon is not negligent.

Negligence: For a legal case to be viable, there must be evidence that the surgeon acted negligently. This means proving that the surgeon did something that a competent surgeon would not have done, or failed to do something that a competent surgeon would have done, leading to the injury.

Causation: It must be demonstrated that the surgeon’s negligence directly caused the complication (in this case, hitting an artery). In other words, the injury wouldn’t have occurred without the surgeon’s mistake.

Damage: The patient must have suffered harm as a result of the negligence. This harm can be physical, emotional, or financial. In your scenario, an extended ICU stay and the additional medical intervention required could potentially be considered damages.

Consent: If the potential risks of the surgery were properly communicated to the patient and the patient gave informed consent, this could impact the viability of a legal case. Surgery often involves known risks, and arterial damage might be one of them, depending on the type of surgery.

Expert Testimony: Medical malpractice cases often require testimony from medical experts. An expert can help establish what the standard of care is in a particular situation, and whether the surgeon’s actions deviated from this standard.

Statute of Limitations: There are time limits for filing medical malpractice lawsuits, which vary by jurisdiction. It’s important to act within these time frames.

Legal Consultation: Consulting with a lawyer who specializes in medical malpractice is crucial. They can provide specific advice based on the details of the case and the laws in the relevant jurisdiction.

Each case is unique, and the viability of a lawsuit will depend on the specific circumstances of the surgery, the actions of the surgeon, and the resultant harm to the patient. Legal advice from a qualified attorney is essential in making this determination.

A: An attorney would consult with a surgeon to answer your question, in terms of the medical standard at hand and the actual measure of damages. A law firm is going to assess those issues against the cost of litigation, namely expert medical opinions. A definitive way to answer your question would be to try to arrange a free initial consult with a law firm that handles such cases. Good luck