For Missourians who need to have a surgical procedure, there is an unavoidable fear and concern as to what the future holds. Even the most mundane and routine procedures carry with them a certain amount of risk. People will trust their medical professionals to do their job up to the best of their abilities and ensure their safety. Unfortunately, there are times when doctors make medical mistakes and it leads to injuries or even fatalities. When a family has suffered the loss of a loved one due to a doctor mistake or some other error, it is imperative that they are aware of the steps they need to take to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

The family of a 61-year-old man who died after what was supposed to be a short surgical procedure has filed a lawsuit. According to the claim, the patient went for an aortic valve replacement in early 2017. The surgeon who performed the surgery scheduled a non-invasive procedure that did not require anything more than a minor incision beneath his arm. The man had been told the surgical procedure had a 99 percent success rate. The doctor, 36, had never done this surgery by himself. Allegedly, other doctors suggested that this surgeon have a more experienced doctor assist him, but he refused.

The lawsuit says that the surgeon made medical mistakes during the procedure, including a failure to adhere to the instructions to complete this surgery as it was supposed to be done. There was a 90-minute time limit for the procedure and the doctor exceeded it. A medical professional hired by the family to investigate the case says that the surgeon made a mistake in attempting this surgery by not opening the chest. Eleven hours after the beginning of the procedure, the patient was taken to intensive care. He never regained consciousness and died when he was removed from life support two days later. The surgeon and hospital are named in the suit.

As this case shows, it is a natural response for a person and their family to believe that a medical professional is experienced and knows how to care for a patient in the best way possible. In truth, it is not uncommon for mistakes to be made that result in injuries and death. For families who believe their loved one’s injuries or death were caused by a medical mistake, speaking to an experienced attorney is the first step toward pursuing compensation.

Source: The Kansas City Star, “Doctor’s ‘cascade of errors’ caused patient’s death, lawsuit alleges,” Mike Hendricks, Oct. 27, 2017