Catastrophic Injuries from Medical Mistakes

Whether you are suffering from a disease and you need treatment, or you have sustained an injury and you need emergency medical care, we turn to doctors to heal us and often to save our lives. When a doctor is able to do the seemingly impossible, we hail them as the heroes they are. But it is important to remember that as humans they are not infallible. Doctors, despite their years of education and training and practical experience, still make mistakes – sometimes horrendous, unthinkable mistakes.

When you suffer catastrophic injuries as a result of medical malpractice, our judicial system affords you the opportunity to seek justice in the form of a medical malpractice lawsuit. We are aware that there is no medical malpractice settlement large enough to compensate for the loss of a loved one, or for the loss of the ability to walk or move your body. But a medical malpractice verdict sends a strong message that a doctor’s negligence caused a significant loss and it also has the potential to draw attention to things that need to change with regard to the actions or failure to act on the part of a medical professional.

Injuries from medical mistakes that can cause catastrophic injury

First, for our purposes, we are defining a catastrophic injury as one that causes severe injury, often permanent disability, and the need for ongoing medical care. Someone who has suffered a catastrophic injury will likely be unable to return to gainful employment, and some may not even be able to manage the basic activities of daily living for themselves.

Some examples of what might be considered catastrophic injuries include injuries to the spinal cord resulting in paralysis, burn injuries that result in significant scarring, traumatic brain injury and others.

Examples of medical mistakes

Medical errors can occur anywhere from an emergency department to an operating room, but medical mistakes are more likely to occur in a setting that is outside of a hospital and they can include:

• Misdiagnosis and failure to diagnose
• Surgical mistakes such as wrong site, wrong patient or wrong procedure surgery
• Injury to other organs and tissues
• Surgical tools left inside of the patient
• Unsanitary surgical instruments

A catastrophic injury can mean the end of your way of life as you know it. If you are unable to care for yourself and you require medical services and other types of support, but you are unable to work due to your injuries, a settlement from a medical malpractice case can provide for you and your family now and into the future.

Have you suffered a catastrophic injury due to a medical mistake? The experienced Memphis medical malpractice attorneys at the law offices of Bailey & Greer, PLLC are here to answer your questions and offer legal guidance. Please contact us or call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a consultation at our Memphis or Jackson office to discuss your case.