Surgeon Negligence

surgeon negligence lawsuits in maryland

In Maryland, as well as Washington DC, some of the most commonly sued physicians are surgeons. There are a number of different surgical subspecialties such as orthopedic surgeons, heart surgeons, cancer surgeons and general surgeons. Also, anesthesiologists can also be sued for negligence if there is illness, injury, trauma or death associated with the anesthesia they administer. If you have been the victim surgeon negligence anywhere in Maryland or Washington D.C. please contact the surgeon negligence attorneys @hardballlaw. Baltimore surgical error attorney Susan R. Green. She offers free case reviews and charges nothing if she is unable to obtain benefits and financial compensation for you.

Serving all of Maryland and Washington DC including Aberdeen, Annapolis, Baltimore, Berlin, Bowie, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Dundalk, Ellicott City, Essex, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Hyattsville, Joppa, Landover, Lanham, Laurel, Olney, Rockville, Severna Park, Silver Spring, Upper Marlboro & Wheaton.

Types Of Surgeon Subspecialties

1. GENERAL SURGEON NEGLIGENCE

General surgeon’s handle a very wide range of illnesses and conditions that can affect pretty much any area of the body. They are responsible for establishing a correct diagnosis, providing preoperative, operative and post-operative care. Comprehensive management of trauma victims as well as terminally ill patients is also a duty of a general surgeon. While they may have more or less responsibilities based on how populated or rural their practice is conditions they deal with can involve the head and neck, breast, skin, soft tissues, abdominal wall, extremities, and gastrointestinal, vascular, and endocrine systems.

2. COLO-RECTAL SURGEON MALPRACTICE

If you are an accident, injury or patient enduring problems related of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), colon, rectum, anal canal, perianal area, you will need to see a colon and rectal surgeon aka a colo-rectal surgeon. While primarily focused on those areas of the body, surgeons in this field also deal with other organs and tissues such as the liver, urinary and female reproductive systems. Consults and diagnoses patients in office, and treats patients experiencing problems of the intestine and colon. Performs operations, including abdominal surgical procedures, to address these problems. This may include robotic surgery. Some of the procedures they perform are for hemorrhoids, fissures, abscesses, fistulae, conditions of the bowel lining, cancer, polyps, inflammatory conditions, chronic ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and diverticulitis.

3. NEUROSURGEON INJURY

A neurosurgeon is often referred to as a brain surgeon as they handle conditions, disorders and illnesses related to the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system & autonomic nervous systems. This includes all supporting structures and vascular supply. Brain surgeons diagnose and treats patients through surgical procedures. Works with emerging technologies like computer-based neuro-navigation, spinal biomechanics and instrumentation, gene therapy, and catheter-driven endovascular techniques. Also handles surgical emergencies such as bleeding within the brain and sudden compression of the spinal cord. Brain tumors, intracranial aneurysms, head injuries, and disorders affecting the spine, including spinal canal stenosis, herniated discs, tumors, fractures, and spinal deformities.

Due to the very complex nature of the nervous system neurosurgeons can focus on particular areas of the body like cerebrovascular neurosurgery, spinal surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, complex seizure disorders, and functional surgery (movement disorders).

4. OBSTETRICIAN & GYNECOLOGIST ACCIDENT LAWSUITS

An obstetrician and gynecologist (OB/GYN) practices 2 different areas of medicine both of which focus on female reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth. They technically operates in two areas of expertise. An obstetrician is a doctor who work with pregnant patients, deliver babies, and care for them just after the baby is born. A gynecologist deals with conditions involving the female reproductive system and sometimes childbirth. Part of their practice has to do with administering medical and surgical care to treat conditions that affect the female reproductive system. They also consult with patients and other healthcare providers on health maintenance and preventive care for women. Issues related to pregnancy, fertility, menstruation and menopause, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and infections (STIs), ovarian cysts, breast disorders, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and congenital abnormalities of the female reproductive tract.

OB-GYN’s can also have a subspecialty such as urogynecology, pelviscopy, adolescent/pediatric gynecology, infectious diseases, maternal-fetal medicine (care for and consult on patients with high-risk pregnancies), reproductive endocrinologists (infertility, assisted reproduction), gynecologic oncology (cancers that affect the female reproductive system).

5. OPHTHALMOLOGIST INJURY CLAIMS

A doctor who many would refer to as an “eye doctor” is known clinically as an ophthalmologist. These medical professionals handle comprehensive care for the eyes and vision. They diagnose and treats all eye and visual problems. Provides vision services such as glasses and contact lenses. Performs surgical procedures for treatment.
Some of the more common eye diseases and vision conditions they deal with are amblyopia (“lazy eye”), astigmatism, cataracts, conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), corneal dystrophies, dry eye, eye cancer, glaucoma, macular degeneration, myopia (“nearsightedness”), retinal detachment, strabismus and uveitis.

Anterior segment surgery, cataracts and refractive surgery, cornea and external diseases, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics and orbit surgery, ophthalmic pathology, pediatric ophthalmology, uveitis and immunology, vitreo-retinal surgery are the different subspecialties eye doctors can focus on.

6. ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON

Professionals who work at the intersection of medicine and dentistry are commonly known as oral surgeons. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons handle issues related to the head, neck, face, jaw, and hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region (jaw, cheek bone, nasal and facial structures). Oral surgeons are responsible for diagnosing, consults, and treats patients in their office. Maxillofacial surgeons also administers anesthesia and performs certain surgical procedures the most common of which is extracting teeth due to infection or wisdom teeth. These surgeons also deal with misaligned jaws, tumors and cysts in the jaw and mouth, cleft palate, and dental implant surgery.

While not terribly common they can focus their practice on cancers of the head, mouth and neck, craniofacial facial deformity, oral medicine, craniofacial trauma, and various cosmetic surgeries.

7. ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON

Orthopedic surgeons deal with bone and joint surgeries. They are statistically one of the 3 most commonly sued doctors in medical malpractice claims in Maryland and Washington D.C. They handle the diagnosis and treatment of issues of the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, associated nerves, arteries, and overlying skin. They treat their patients through surgical procedures as well as through the use of braces, casts, splints, or physical therapy. Conditions that may be present at birth or develop during the lifetime, including congenital deformities, trauma, infections, tumors, degenerative conditions, and metabolic disturbances. May treat secondary muscular issues in patients with central or peripheral nervous system lesions like cerebral palsy, paraplegia, or stroke.

Surgeries of the hand, sports medicine, pediatric orthopedics, spine surgery, foot and ankle orthopedics, joint replacement, trauma surgery, and oncology are some of the different subspecialties bone injury surgeons can focus on.

8. OTOLARYNGOLOGIST

An otolaryngologist addresses conditions related to the ears, nose, throat (ENT), and related structures (respiratory and upper alimentary systems). They are commonly referred to as head and neck doctors. Performing hearing tests, administers radiotherapy, cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures, polyp removal, fixing cleft palates, and tumor extraction are some of the more common duties of an ENT. Refers patients to other medical specialists related to communication sciences, like audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and specialists in the chemical senses. In addition, hearing loss, balance disorders, ringing in the ears, sinus and nasal cavity disorders, snoring, deviated septum, allergies, smell and taste disorders, migraine headaches, and disorders of the throat, esophagus and larynx are common issues warranting a consult with an ENT.

Some of the subspecialties they focus on are otology and neurology, laryngology, facial reconstructive and plastic surgery, and sleep disorders.

9. PEDIATRIC SURGEON

Pediatric surgeons only handle surgical procedures on children. They are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and providing post-operative care to kids. Age wise they can treat newborns through the teenage years. Some form of pediatric specialty can also usually be found in other surgical professions due to the unique and complex nature of diseases and illnesses affecting children. They collaborate with other doctors including neonatologists, pediatricians, and family physicians to determine if surgery is the best treatment option for the child. These surgeons handle conditions including birth defects, fetal surgery (corrective surgery before a baby is born), traumatic injuries, and malignant and benign tumors. There are several subspecialties like neonatal, prenatal, trauma, and pediatric oncology.

10. PLASTIC AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON

Many people think of plastic surgeons as exclusively focused on cosmetic surgeries, but this surgical specialty entails much more. They handle the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of form and function defects of the body. This can include the musculoskeletal system, craniofacial structures, oropharynx, upper and lower limbs, breast, and external genitalia. These surgeons perform surgeries involving transfer of skin flaps, transplantation of tissues, and replantation of structures. Manages complex wounds and leverages knowledge in surgical design, surgical diagnosis, surgical and artistic anatomy, and more. Issues such as congenital deformities, nose reshaping, breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes or following mastectomy, reconstructive surgery for individuals who have sustained burns, scars, or trauma to the face, hands and lower limbs, and removal of excess skin or body fat.

Cranio-maxillofacial surgery, microvascular surgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery are sub-areas they can focus on.

11. THORACIC SURGEON

The thorax, in humans, contains the part of the body below the neck and above abdomen and houses the ribs, heart and lungs. A thoracic surgeon is often referred to as a “heart surgeon.” These surgeons handle disease, illness and and injuries within the chest, including the coronary artery, lung, esophagus, chest wall, great vessels and heart valves, mediastinum, diaphragm, and management of the airway. Much of their practice involves consulting with, and accurately diagnosing, patients experiencing intrathoracic abnormalities, performs operations and uses processes and systems like extracorporeal circulation, cardiac assist devices, cardiac dysrhythmia management, pleural drainage, respiratory support systems, endoscopy, and more. They also deal with congenital anomalies of the chest, tumors of the mediastinum, diseases of the diaphragm, lung cancer, benign diseases and tumors of the lung, esophageal cancer, chest reconstruction after major trauma or surgery, mesothelioma, and lung transplants.

As with other surgeons they can have a very focused practice working primarily on adult cardiac surgeries, congenital or pediatric heart surgeries.

12. UROLOGIST

A urologist addresses conditions of the adrenal gland and the genitourinary (reproductive and urinary) system. He or she typically operates on the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate, urethra, and testes. Treats patients through in-office practice, minimally-invasive endoscopies, and major open surgical procedures. Conditions warrantinh a urologist are kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), incontinence, cystoscopies, prostate biopsies, vasectomies, nephrectomy and transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

Some of the subspecialties they focus on are urologic oncology, pediatric urology, stone disease, infertility, impotence, female urology, and laparoscopy.

13. VASCULAR SURGEON NEGLIGENCE

When a patient has a disease or illness related specifically to arteries and veins, he or she will likely be referred to a vascular surgeon. Vascular surgeons focus specifically on the circulatory system. Consults, diagnoses, and treats patients with complex blood or circulatory diseases or illnesses. Operates in both open, complicated surgeries as well as minimally-invasive endovascular procedures. May also treat patients outside of surgical means, like through medication or exercise regimens. Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), stroke, aneurysms, blood clots as well as the after effects of any arterial conditions or conditions of the vascular system.

Each and every one of these surgeons can commit surgeon negligence which can end in long term and life threatening injuries. While some of the more common acts of surgeon negligence (operating on wrong body part, leaving surgical instrument inside body, etc.) are the grounds for a surgery malpractice claim there are also cases involving internal organ damage, nerve injury and infection leading to amputation. No matter what type of surgeon harmed you you have rights and should contact our surgeon negligence law firm immediately for a case analysis. You may qualify for benefits and financial compensation.

Contact Maryland Surgeon Negligence Attorney Susan R. Green Now

Please click here to arrange a free and comprehensive case analysis with an Annapolis surgeon negligence attorney. Ms. Green charges nothing if she is unable to obtain compensation for you.

Serving all of MD & DC: Annapolis, Baltimore, Bethesda, College Park, Dundalk, Towson, Ocean City, Glen Burnie & Salisbury.

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