Atlanta Surgical Positioning Injury Lawyers

Get Legal Help After Surgical Errors and Injuries

Patients are very vulnerable when undergoing surgery. Their health and their lives are in the hands of the surgical team throughout the duration of the operation. While most of us understand the need for a sterile environment, the right procedure on the right body part, and closely monitoring a patient’s vital signs during surgery, we often don’t think about the importance of body positioning during surgery.

Errors in body positioning can result in nerve damage, pressure ulcers (bedsores), circulatory issues, cell death, brain damage, severe blood loss, anesthesia mistakes, and other injuries. In one newsworthy example, a woman suffered chemical eye burns and lost her vision because her eyes weren’t taped shut during surgery; in another case, a man suffered a permanent nerve injury to his hand because his surgeon leaned on it while performing abdominal surgery.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to positioning errors during surgery, you may be entitled to significant compensation for losses and damages through a surgical malpractice lawsuit. To find out more about your legal rights and options, you’ll want to consult an experienced attorney. The legal team at Atlanta’s Grant Law Office has been helping Georgia residents with medical malpractice claims for more than a combined 50 years. Call (404) 995-3955 for a free case evaluation.

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Proper Patient Positioning for Surgery

To ensure a successful surgery outcome, the patient should be positioned so that:

• The patient will be as comfortable as possible while receiving anesthesia and during surgery.
• Every member of the surgical team has a clear, unobstructed view of the surgical site on the patient’s body.
• The anesthesiologist has adequate room to administer medication and monitor the patient’s vital signs.
• The surgeon and nurses have adequate room to perform their duties.
• Bleeding is minimized.
• There is no undue pressure on a body part.
• There is no undue pressure on nerves.
• Blood supply to any body part is not obstructed.
• Respirations are not impeded by the patient’s gown, body parts, or surgical equipment.
• Shoulder and other body part braces should be well-padded and not overly constricting.

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Creating a Surgical Positioning Strategy

When determining a patient’s surgical position, the prepping team should take the following factors into consideration:

• The patient’s age, weight, and height.
• The patient’s overall health, including nutrition and other medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, vascular and nerve issues, etc.
• Any medications the patient is currently taking.
• The patient’s medical history, including previous surgeries and results, previous reactions to anesthesia, etc.
• Type of surgery scheduled, and estimated duration of surgery.
• Type of anesthesia to be administrated.
• Any existing injuries, such as skin abrasions, pressure ulcers, infections, etc.

Surgeries are intended to save people’s lives and improve their health, not injure or kill them. All healthcare professionals involved in pre-surgical, surgical, and post-surgical procedures and care have an obligation to ensure a patient’s safety. When any sort of negligence results in injury to a patient, the medical facility, doctors, surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologist, and any other member of the healthcare team can be held liable. But hospitals and medical professionals carry malpractice insurance policies, and insurance companies employ armies of lawyers to diminish claims against them.

To get the compensation you and your family deserve, you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer in Atlanta. We at Grant Law Office consider it our mission to fight for the rights of malpractice victims, and will take a personal interest in your case. Call today for a free consultation, at (404) 995-3955.

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Additional Information

• The Trauma of Poor Surgical Positioning