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Outpatient surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), can provide much more affordable and efficient services than hospitals by eliminating many of the overhead costs associated with inpatient care. However, while ASCs are regulated by state and federal authorities, just like larger healthcare facilities, they are not always operated or insured in the same ways, which can significantly complicate the process of filing suit for malpractice that occurred within one.
For this reason, among many others, it can be especially important to have help from an experienced medical malpractice attorney if you want to seek civil compensation for harm you sustained through an ASC employee’s misconduct. From the beginning to the end of your legal proceedings, a Philadelphia outpatient surgery center negligence lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams will be the steadfast ally you need to proactively pursue the restitution you deserve.
Establishing a Breach in a Surgeon’s Standard of Care
All surgeons and other members of surgical care teams—including those who work at ASCs—are expected to provide the same standard of care to their patients that any other physician with equivalent experience and training would provide. This means that while it may not be possible to file suit over unforeseeable complications from a surgery or from minor errors that any equally qualified doctor might have made under the same circumstances, it is often possible to sue over things such as:
- Incorrectly performed surgical procedures
- Unsanitary conditions in an operating room leading to injury or infection
- Miscommunication between team members leading to wrong-site surgery or a similarly egregious mistake
- Surgical tools or materials being left behind in a patient’s body
- Failure to provide sufficient instructions for safe post-operative behavior and care
- Anesthesia-related injuries
In some situations, multiple healthcare professionals may be negligent in different ways during a single surgical operation, allowing a Philadelphia ASC malpractice attorney to name all of them as co-defendants in an ensuing settlement demand or lawsuit.
How Are Outpatient Surgery Center Malpractice Lawsuits Unique?
There are many practical differences between hospitals and ASCs, but one of the most important distinctions in malpractice litigation is how each type of facility is insured. Hospitals are typically owned by large healthcare corporations with extensive malpractice insurance policies, so successfully filing suit against an employee of such a facility or against the facility itself can often allow comprehensive recovery for short-term and long-term losses.
Conversely, outpatient surgery centers may have less comprehensive insurance coverage for themselves and the doctors on their staff, which could make it more difficult to recover fairly for life-altering injuries caused by their professional negligence. A seasoned Philadelphia lawyer can provide vital help with identifying all possible sources of restitution and maximizing the total amount of money available to an injured plaintiff in an ASC negligence case.
Work With an Outpatient Surgery Center Malpractice Attorney in Philadelphia
Regardless of the type of facility in which it occurs, professional negligence by a healthcare provider can have serious or even life-threatening repercussions for their patients. However, each malpractice claim is unique, and the optimal strategy for your claim may look very differently from what the ideal path forward for someone else might be.
Guidance from an experienced legal professional can be key not just to achieving a favorable case result but also to avoiding legal and procedural obstacles throughout the process. Call Lowenthal & Abrams today for the assistance you need from a Philadelphia outpatient surgery center negligence lawyer. Schedule your free consultation now.
