Would you sue for malpractice

[gojo83]

Just looking for some input here from others and maybe give me a few talking points when discussing this with the gf. I will make a long story short but the gf went in for " routine surgery" a laproscopy... where they use the little machine and small slits instead of a big incision. The dr managed to nick the artery that runs around the belly button and she lost alot of blood during the surgery but they kept her here and brought her back. but in the past 3 weeks she has had to have the incision that is now a 4 in cut glued shut 4 times and has a little area of the internal stitch caught in the incision and that is the spot that has festered and continued stay infected to this day. Speaking of infection she somehow contracted staph in her liver, kidney and in the incision which has continued to spike her temp up to 102 and on a few times reached as high as 104. For those that are not up on the medical side if the body temp hits 105 for extended time it can and often does cause brain damage.

here is the question and the area I need help she is looking to go into the medical field and be a dr some day so she thinks that a malpractice suit would hurt her chances in the long run. Here is what i tell her she doesnt have to go for the jugular but a little suit to cover the amount she would have made if the surgery hadnt gone wrong and a little for pain and suffering. Plz post thoughts advice or whatever so that i can make a decent case. Also keep her in your thoughts and prayers she got put in the hospital on christmas which is no fun for anyone.

[1badz]

Very sorry to hear about your and your girlfriend's unfortunate situation. The crappy part is that it is hard enough to get into a medical school, so with a lawsuit like that I can only imagine that it would make it harder for her to get in. That being said, I would not let malpractice of this sort go by you guys without ruffling up some feathers. The doctor(s) need to take responsibility for their actions. Whatever you guys decide to do, good luck. May she have a rapid and painless recovery!

[jallen100]

I would at least speak to an attorney to see what your options are. Unfortunately some of that stuff comes with the territory. They are supposed to warn you of all the risks before hand. My sister works in the ER at the Childrens hospital here in Ohio and staph infections are pretty common in hospitals. She tells me there is way worse stuff floating around in hospitals also. I hope your gf has a speedy recovery and this sucks to hear.

[CALL911]

Agree with jallen100. In any surgery there are risks, and although most of them may be very slight, and thus almost always nothing happens, there are those few that get the bad end of the percentage deal like your GF. That being said, even though you understood the risks involved and agreed anyways, that doesn't mean that the doctor isn't still liable for mistakes that may have been made on his part. Mistakes do happen, and depending on what was done, your GF may be entitled to exactly what you were looking for, if not more. Then again, you may not.

I know a little about this stuff because my Dad used to work for a very large lawyer firm that protected doctors against being sued with malpractice. Again wih jallen, I would contact an attorney. Their advice will be free, and they will know all of the specifics involved both with your chances against the doctors, and if by going forward with the legal suit if it would indeed hinder your GF's chances of joining the medical field in the future.

[popo8]

....... Here is what i tell her she doesnt have to go for the jugular but a little suit to cover the amount she would have made if the surgery hadnt gone wrong and a little for pain and suffering......

First let me start by saying, Im sorry for what has happened to her....

Now, as for the part of what you said that I quoted above.... THERE IS NO SUCH THING... Do it or dont do it, however the negative effects on her chances of med school will deteriorate the same, whether a small lawsuit or a big one....

Speak with an attorney, weigh out the options.... Then leave the decision TOTALLY up to her, so you cant be "wrong" in the future....