Last year, the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) reaffirmed its position on a paper that addresses patient safety. The paper states seven main objectives in patient safety for obstetricians and gynecologists across the country, including following safe medication practices, reducing the likelihood of surgical errors, and improving communication with all parties. However, the group also acknowledged that errors in providing care are a significant cause of injury and death. Gynecology mistakes can be particularly devastating for women, as they can sometimes result in loss of fertility and even death.
Common Gynecology Errors in New York
As with any branch of medicine, negative outcomes can occur under the most skilled and experienced care. However, there are times when a physician’s carelessness or negligence results in an avoidable and serious problem. In gynecology, some of the most common mistakes include:
- Failure to recognize bowel perforation. When performing a gynecologic operation, many structures are in close proximity to portions of the bowel. It can be easy to accidentally perforate the bowel. When the operating gynecologist does not recognize this occurrence, it can cause bleeding, pain, further injury, sepsis, and more. Injuries to the urinary tract can also occur in a similar fashion.
- Failure to diagnose ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants in a fallopian tube. As the fetus grows larger inside the tube, it can lead to a rupture. This can cause bleeding, loss of fertility, and even death.
- Misinterpretation of laboratory test results. Many important gynecologic decisions are made based upon laboratory results. When the physician misinterprets the result, the patients may fail to receive necessary treatment or be subjected to inappropriate treatment.
- Performing unnecessary surgery. There have been cases in which a gynecologist operates on a female patient unnecessarily. An avoidable hysterectomy can be devastating to a woman both physically and emotionally.
- Medication errors. When a patient receives the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of a medication, the consequences can be severe. Not only is the original medical problem not being addressed, the incorrect medication can have serious adverse effects on other body systems.
How Do I Know If My Gynecology Problem Was Avoidable?
As stated before, sometimes complications are unavoidable. With medicine, treatments and procedures do have limitations that both physician and patient must understand. Most doctors respect their relationships with patients enough to be honest and acknowledge when a mistake was made. However, there are times when a patient and her loved ones must be their own advocates. A skilled attorney can help victims obtain and examine their medical records, interview medical staff, find appropriate doctors to offer a second opinion, and determine if negligence occurred.
New York lawyer Gerry Oginski has been helping victims of medical malpractice for over 20 years. While victims often feel alone, Gerry has helped many women seek justice and compensation for the carelessness of a gynecologist. Even if you aren’t sure if your injury qualifies as medical malpractice, call Oginski Law today at 516.487-8207. Gerry can answer your questions and schedule a free, no-obligation to determine your legal options.
What Kinds of Compensation Are Available to New York Women?
Many of these gynecologic errors are irreversible, and even those that can be fixed often cause further distress, pain, and financial strain. Victims do not have to bear these burdens alone. New York law allows victims to seek justice and pursue compensation for their injuries. Victims of gynecology errors may be able to obtain money for:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
If you or someone you love has suffered due to a gynecology error or mistake, you may be entitled to pursue this compensation. Call the experienced lawyer at Oginski Law at 516.487-8207, or take a moment to fill out our online contact form for a prompt and personal response from Gerry. He can help you learn more about your rights and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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