Q: Can I sue a oral surgeon who damaged a nerve and locked my jaw?
I had went for a wisdom tooth removal, during the procedure the surgeon was already in a bad mood arguing with the employees, he pulls a wisdom that was connected to a nerve, out of frustration he had with the employees he yanked my nerve. Week later I’m all healed, but I have no feeling on my lip and my chin, it feels like tiny needles, and I’m unable to eat due to my jaw being locked in place for some reason, no matter how hard I try to open to eat, I’m unable to. During the procedure I cried from pain, after he was done he exit the room in a rush arguing with the nurses. I don’t know what to do, I’m in so much pain. Can I sue him?
A:
If you've experienced nerve damage and jaw locking following a wisdom tooth removal procedure, and you believe the damage was caused by the oral surgeon's actions, you might have grounds to pursue legal action. In medical practices, professionals are expected to provide a standard of care that is consistent with what other competent professionals would provide in similar circumstances. If this standard of care is not met, and it results in harm to the patient, it may be considered medical malpractice.
Documenting your injuries, symptoms, and any additional treatments you've had to undergo as a result of the procedure is crucial. This includes medical records, notes from follow-up visits, and any communications you've had with the surgeon or the medical facility about your condition. Additionally, keeping a record of how this situation has affected your daily life, including pain, suffering, and any financial losses due to medical bills or time off work, is important for your case.
Consulting with an attorney who has experience in medical malpractice cases can provide you with guidance on how to proceed. They can assess the details of your situation, advise on the strength of your case, and help navigate the legal process. This may include negotiating a settlement or representing you in court to seek compensation for your injuries, pain, and any associated costs. Remember, every situation is unique, so getting personalized advice is key to understanding your legal options.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
