LAPAROSCOPY SURGERY COMPENSATION CLAIM
Laparoscopic surgery is a popular alternative to open surgery mainly because it is less invasive, the scars are minimal and recovery times are shorter however it is certainly not without its risks due to medical negligence which can involve serious complications, damage to vital organs and fatality.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Laparoscopy Medical Negligence
Laparoscopy involves making small incisions to insert a miniaturised camera into the body which then transmits to television screens in the operating theatre and to insert the tools to perform the surgery. The first incisions and insertion of equipment is the time of greatest risk of unintended physical damage and surgeons are required to follow established protocols which should reduce the risk of accidental injury subject to unusual anatomy. The blame for a failed operation inevitably lies with the operating surgeon with liability for laparoscopy medical negligence being attributed to the healthcare provider which is usually a public hospital trust or a private hospitals owner. Inexperience with the laparoscopic equipment, lack of satisfactory technique and failure to follow well established protocols are the main causes of error resulting in personal injury and a subsequent laparoscopy medical negligence compensation claim.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Keyhole Surgery Complications
Laparascopic surgery otherwise known as keyhole surgery has substantially increased over recent years however there has also been a dramatic rise in laparoscopy medical negligence. There are tens of thousands of deaths recorded every year as a result of clinical negligence and a substantial proportion of those occur following keyhole surgery. The majority of complications occur on initial surgical entry and most of the claims concern damage to the bowel, bladder and ureters, injuries to blood vessels and through the use of electrosurgery to coagulate, cut and dissect. The main cause of these problems relates to the surgeon making a misjudgement or a mistake which may be as a result of inadequate training, lack of aptitude or inexperience in that particular procedure.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Failure to Follow Established Protocols
Injuries through the misuse of laparoscopic equipment are often associated with the bowel, blood vessels, intestines or bile duct and the procedure is generally more dangerous than open surgery. Most injuries occur when the camera is being inserted through the initial incision which is effectively carried out 'blind'. Subsequently other instruments are threaded between the other organs on the journey to the desired location. The camera only has a narrow field of vision meaning any deviation by one of the instruments could cause unnoticed injury. There are very well established protocols for carrying out laparoscopic surgery and subject to abnormal anatomy there should be no risk of injury however injuries do occur due to the negligent operation of the equipment by the surgeon concerned.
COMPENSATION HELPLINE 0845 177 0929
Time Limits for Legal Action
If you have undergone laparoscopic surgery and there were complications as a result of medical negligence you may be able to claim compensation. Time is of the essence and there are time limits for all personal injury claims. Failure to comply with the Limitation Act may mean that the opportunity to claim compensation is lost forever. Don't delay - take legal advice today.