In a shocking case of surgical malpractice, a doctor at a Riverside California hospital removed a patient’s only healthy kidney.  The man is now left with no kidneys after the diseased one was removed following discovery of the error.

A multitude of errors led up to the final grave mistake, including failure to follow safety protocol, failure to properly communicate with the patient, who speaks Spanish, and forcing the patient to sign a consent form essentially granting them permission to remove the wrong kidney.

Perhaps of most concern, though, is the fact that the doctor who performed the botched surgery did not even have privileges at that hospital to remove either kidney.

Once the medical error was discovered, the hospital then removed the patient’s diseased kidney, leaving him with no functioning kidneys.

Not surprisingly the California Department of Public Health has gotten involved and is actively investigating the incident.  If the hospital is penalized, it may face fines of up to $225,000.

Additionally, it’s pretty certain that there will be a surgical malpractice lawsuit forthcoming, although none has been reportedly filed as of yet.  But certainly the doctors involved in this tragic error should be held accountable for their gross negligence.

Dr. Thomas Laney of Seattle is being accused by the State Medical Agency of surgical malpractice for an alleged botched breast augmentation as well as liposuction on a teenage girl.  He is also being accused of unprofessional conduct because of the patient’s age.

The unnamed patient was just 15 years old at the time of the procedures, and sought treatment from the surgeon to reduce the large size of her breasts, which she claimed interfered with her athletic activities and caused her pain.  She also requested liposuction for weight loss purposes.

According to the lawsuit filed by the girl’s family, which has since been settled, the doctor didn’t perform the breast reduction properly, putting her nipples back in the wrong place and leaving her breasts with an “unnatural appearance”.

The Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission is now getting involved, citing that the doctor did not have the proper education or training to perform the surgeries in question, and that he acted negligently by agreeing to perform liposuction on such a young patient.

Although there are no reports that the girl suffered any injury from the liposuction, it is a highly risky procedure which could have resulted in infection, tissue loss and even death.  Because of this, the Agency claims that Dr. Laney should have refused to perform the surgery and instead recommended a proper diet and exercise for weight loss.

This isn’t Laney’s first experience with medical malpractice accusations.  In fact, he has been sued at least 10 other times by patients or their families.  One such incident involved the death of a plastic surgery patient who ceased breathing while under anesthesia.

Amazingly, although he has been fined in the past, the medical board has yet to place any restrictions on Laney’s medical license, even given his track record.

He has requested a hearing in this particular case but no date has been scheduled yet.  In the meantime, he continues to practice medicine.

Arkansas surgeon Dr. John B. Weiss is denying allegations that he committed surgical malpractice by leaving a surgical instrument in a patient’s thigh during surgery.

The patient, John Walters, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit last week seeking compensation for his injuries.  The lawsuit alleges that during a 2004 surgery, the doctor left a piece of plastic referred to as a “blue surgical tunneler” in his left thigh.  The object went undetected until July 2008 when it was discovered and subsequently surgically removed.

According to court documents, Walters claims that he confronted the doctor after he learned of the medical error and that Dr. Weiss admitted to leaving the object inside the patient’s thigh.  In his answer, Weiss adamantly denies the admission and any wrongdoing.

The lawsuit also indicates that Walters believes the foreign object may have played a part in his being diagnosed with leukemia, which the doctor also denies.

Walters is seeking damages for medical expenses (past and future) and pain and suffering.  Records do not indicate the dollar amount of damages being sought.

Attorneys for Dr. Weiss are filing a motion to dismiss.

Source:   nwanews.com

A jury in Georgia has begun deliberating over a case of surgical malpractice that has left a man paralized from the waist down.

According to evidence presented during the week-long trial, in February 2005 Randall Scroggs underwent a surgery in which Dr. Karl Schultz attempted to insert a spinal cord stimulator into his spine.  The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Shultz failed to follow proper procedure and rather than using diagnostic or MRI imaging to assist him during the surgery, he performed it “blindly”.

Among the claims, Scroggs’ medical attorney also accuses Dr. Schultz of inserting the stimulator without proper informed consent.  Scroggs was never informed of the alternative methods (diagnostic or MRI) and therefore claims that the surgery was performed without his legal consent.

A surgical error during the procedure resulted in Scroggs being paralyzed from the waist down.  He is seeking damages in the amount of $3 million.

This is yet another example of how life-altering spinal cord injuries can truly be.  When those injuries occur as a result of a surgical error, medical lawyers can help to ensure that the doctor responsible pays for his negligence.  If you or a loved one has been a victim of surgical malpractice, contact an attorney right away to discuss your rights.

Source: accessnorthga.com