Vascular surgeons operate on blood vessels, and for that reason this is a specialty with high risk of significant injury or death. Lack of experience and poor surgical judgment by a vascular surgeon can lead to preventable injury and medical malpractice.
Here is a true story of vascular surgery malpractice prosecuted by the Patrick Malone firm.
Michael Wood underwent surgery to open a blocked artery in his shoulder, but woke up with severe damage to the main nerve controlling his hand on that side. After two more surgeries to try to repair the nerve damage, Mr. Wood still had no use of his left hand, and his ability to do two-handed tasks was ruined. Patrick Malone & Associates brought a medical malpractice suit on behalf of Mr. Wood against the surgeon who did the artery surgery and his employer at Southern Maryland Hospital, in Clinton, Maryland.
The main allegations of the lawsuit
- The surgeon was not experienced in this type of condition: blockage of the subclavian artery.
- The surgeon used a technique that none of his colleagues used, which created high risk of nerve damage because he chose to operate in an area very close to the main nerve controlling the hand.
- The surgeon didn’t disclose options to the patient and his wife and scared them into thinking it was urgent when it was not.
- The surgeon had a conflict of interest that may have influenced his failure to refer the patient to someone more experienced who had a safer technique.
You can read Mr. Malone’s opening statement and closing argument in the case on our website. The case ended with a successful verdict for the plaintiff of just under $1.5 million.
Consult with an Experienced Malpractice Attorney
If you believe you or a family member has been seriously injured from medical malpractice, medical error, or neglect by a doctor, hospital, nurse, clinic, nursing home or other health care provider, you may want to click here to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney for a free evaluation of your case. You can also email us at info@patrickmalonelaw.com or call us at 202-742-1500 or 888-625-6635 toll-free. We will respond within 24 hours. There is no charge for our initial consultation.
