Q: Should I seek help for the doctor not telling me the outcomes before a surgery.
I had a laminectomy for back pain on 7/25, I woke up in far worse condition, before the surgery I was able to walk, I woke up after with no use of my legs from the knees down, and now I have to wear leg braces to keep my feet still every day they told me it was a small minimally invasive procedure and is often even outpatient, i spent a week in the hospital and almost a month in a physical rehab center following and it is now2 months post surgery and I still am wheel chair bound. I feel they didn't express the risks of the surgery to me so I could have made an informed decision and now am dealing with pain and rehab to re learn to walk again.
A: A Washington attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I'm sorry for your ordeal following the laminectomy. In terms of your question about seeking help, it sounds like you mean legal help. You could arrange a consult with law firms in your state. If a law firm expressed interest in delving deeper, they would want to review medical records with the oversight of a healthcare professional. It's possible that in the large volume of papers often presented to patients, there could be documentation within that goes to the element of risks involved and informed consent. Such issues could be addressed if a records retrieval was requested. For now, you could reach out to attorneys. Most law firms will offer a free initial, no-obligation consult, and many are amenable to virtual conferencing using Zoom or similar platforms these days. I hope your rehab efforts will be successful. Good luck
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.
