
Dallas Surgical Malpractice Attorney
Did You Suffer Because of a Surgery Error? Call Aldous \ Walker Today!
While surgical procedures are an important part of American (and international) healthcare, they are inherently dangerous, given their nature. Coupled with the fact that doctors are human, surgical mistakes are inevitable and often lead to extensive and irreparable damage.
It is estimated that at least 4,000 serious surgical errors occur every year. Of all medical malpractice cases filed in the United States, 50% were brought against surgeons. While patients may be informed of the risks, surgical mistakes often occur that lie beyond the scope of reasonable dangers. If you were injured because of a surgical mistake, you may have grounds for compensation and should speak with a qualified attorney immediately.
Call (214) 307-6307 to learn your legal rights and receive qualified counsel from a Dallas surgical malpractice attorney!
The Aldous / Walker Difference
Doctors and hospitals have expensive insurance lawyers and in-house counsel to protect them from surgical malpractice lawsuits, which is why you need a legal advocate who is just as formidable. The Aldous / Walker firm is legendary in Dallas and across the nation. Firm Founder, Charla Aldous, has been listed in "Best Lawyers" since 2003 and is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an exclusive group of the top trial lawyers in America. Everything Aldous / Walker does is motivated by one very important goal: To Treat Clients Like Family.
Call our Dallas surgical malpractice lawyers today at (214) 307-6307 to see how our firm can help your case.
Types of Surgical Errors
A surgical error refers to a mistake made by a medical professional during a surgical procedure that leads to harm or injury to the patient. These errors can have serious consequences, including prolonged recovery times, additional surgeries, or even death. Surgical errors can arise from a variety of factors, including human error, equipment malfunction, or inadequate preoperative planning.
Here are some common types of surgical errors:
- Wrong Site Surgery: Before a surgeon operates, they need to make sure they are performing surgery on the correct body part or site. Performing on the wrong site can cause serious harm because that part of the body did not need medical attention. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates one out of every 112,000 surgeries happen on the wrong site.
- Left-Behind Errors: Surgeons have been known to leave objects such as sponges, scalpels, and scissors in the body. Not only is this unacceptable, this can cause serious injuries that the patient could have avoided. Studies report one in every 7,600 surgeries result with an object being left behind in the body.
- Surgery on the Wrong Patient: Before a doctor performs a procedure, they need to make sure they have the right patient and know their medical history. If the surgeons are careless, they can perform an operation on the wrong person, which can prove fatal.
- Wrong Procedure: Performing an incorrect procedure or a procedure that was not intended. This often stems from confusion or miscommunication about the surgical plan.
- Surgical Instrument Errors: Leaving surgical instruments or other foreign objects inside the patient's body after the surgery. This can lead to infections, pain, and additional surgeries.
- Anesthesia Errors: Mistakes related to anesthesia administration, including incorrect dosage or failure to monitor the patient's response to anesthesia properly.
- Inadequate Sterilization: Failure to properly sterilize surgical instruments and equipment, which can lead to infections or other complications.
- Poor Surgical Technique: Errors in the execution of the surgical procedure, such as improper suturing, incorrect tissue handling, or inadequate surgical approach.
- Failure to Diagnose: Not identifying a condition or disease that should have been addressed during surgery, potentially leading to improper treatment or complications.
- Postoperative Care Errors: Mistakes made in the care provided after the surgery, including inadequate monitoring, failure to follow up on recovery, or errors in administering postoperative medications.
- Communication Failures: Miscommunication among the surgical team, including misunderstandings about the surgical plan, patient information, or other critical details.
Causes of Surgical Malpractice
No two surgeries are the same. As such, the reasons for surgical errors can vary from patient to patient. However, there are some surgical errors that are more common than others:
- Failure to follow safety protocol
- Incompetence
- Lack of proper training
- Fatigue
- Substance abuse
When you come to Aldous / Walker, our Dallas surgical malpractice lawyers will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your injuries to determine why the mistake occurred and who should be held responsible. Our firm has decades of experience and extensive resources to put towards your case.
Call (214) 307-6307 to get started.
Are You the Victim of a Surgical Never Event?
There are moments when surgeons commit unforgivable mistakes. These are called “never events.” Like the name suggests, these events should never occur. If a doctor does commit a never event, they can cause serious damage that may not be repairable.
If a doctor commits a never event transgression, they must be held accountable for their mistake. With the appropriate legal representation, you can seek the compensation you deserve for your injuries or for the preventable loss of your family member.
Who is Liable? The Surgeon or Hospital?
Surgeons are expected to adhere to a standard of care, and if their actions fall below this standard, they may be held responsible for the resulting harm. If the error was due to the surgeon's negligence, such as mistakes in technique, improper judgment, or failure to follow standard procedures, the surgeon can be held directly liable.
However, hospitals can be held liable for the actions of their employees, including surgeons, under the principle of vicarious liability. If the surgeon is an employee of the hospital, the hospital may be held responsible for the surgeon's negligence.
Hospitals can also be liable for systemic issues, such as inadequate training, poor supervision, or failure to ensure proper sterilization of equipment. If the surgical error resulted from these systemic failures, the hospital might be held liable.
Lastly, if the error was due to malfunctioning equipment or inadequate facility maintenance, the hospital could be responsible for failing to provide a safe environment or the manufacturer of the equipment could be held liable for a defective product.
Contact Aldous / Walker Today!
Our law firm understand how painful a surgical error can be. If you or a loved one sustained severe injuries because of a mistake made in the operating room, you may have grounds for compensation.
Contact our Dallas surgical malpractice attorneys today to schedule a free consultation.
We will review your case and inform you of your rights. To us, our clients are our family. We fight on their behalf as such.

The Aldous \ Walker Difference

