When a patient in Kentucky undergoes a surgical procedure, it is standard practice to inform the patient of the risks as well as what will be done during the procedure. Unfortunately, not all doctors will follow the rules. A medical malpractice lawsuit in another state alleged that a surgeon’s negligence caused a woman to suffer loss of fertility along with other complications.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was pregnant and delivered a baby boy via cesarean section. The lawsuit said placental tissue was discovered in the woman’s uterus about two months later and she underwent a procedure to remove the tissue. Allegedly, this particular procedure is usually performed with a scope or ultrasound for guidance, but the woman’s doctor did the surgery blind without these visual aids.
Three months after the first procedure, the lawsuit said the woman needed the same procedure again. However, the second surgery was performed by a different doctor who used a scope and confirmed that the woman’s uterus was perforated during the first procedure, according to claims. The plaintiff said she suffered complications and eventually needed a hysterectomy as a result of the first doctor’s negligence. A jury sided with the plaintiff and awarded her $300,000 in the lawsuit.
When patients in Kentucky undergo a procedure, they place their lives in the hands of doctors and surgeons. When the negligence of medical providers results in injuries to a patient, he or she can take legal action and file a medical malpractice claim. Damages from a successful lawsuit could give victims and families much-needed financial relief.