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There are several benefits to using modern surgical staplers to close surgical incisions, rather than hand-stitching with a needle and thread. In practice, however, surgical staplers are much more prone to malfunctioning than their manufacturers would like to admit. Such malfunctions have caused thousands of serious injuries and hundreds of deaths over the past several years.
If you experience serious side effects after wound closure or if a close family member loses their life due to complications with stapling, our experienced surgical error attorneys can help you pursue legal action. From the beginning to the end of the litigation process, a Philadelphia surgical stapling injury lawyer from Lowenthal & Abrams can make your claim as strong as possible and work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
How Can Surgical Stapler Malfunctions Lead to Injuries?
While surgical staplers are significantly more refined and technologically advanced than a standard office stapler, some of the same problems can occur with both. Bent staples, misfires, and failure to place a staple at the appropriate angle or depth can prevent wounds from closing correctly, increase the risk of infection, and directly cause additional injuries.
Additionally, there have been cases of surgeons or other medical professionals committing legally actionable malpractice by improperly placing surgical staples or using the wrong staple size for a particular patient’s incision. However, surgical stapling injuries in Philadelphia are generally due to mechanical defects, so civil claims often involve a combination of medical malpractice and product liability law that can be difficult to understand without a skilled attorney’s guidance.
Recovering Fairly for Short- and Long-Term Damages
The misuse or malfunctioning of a surgical stapler can cause various types of physical harm to patients, including tears in bodily tissues and organs, internal bleeding, sepsis, and even an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. Accordingly, your claim should account for past and future losses caused by your injuries, including:
- Costs of additional medical treatment made necessary by the mistake or malfunction
- Lost work income and future earning capacity
- Disability-related expenses, such as for wheelchairs, home modifications, and in-home assistance
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and trauma
- Decline in overall enjoyment of life
If a medical professional injures you during surgical stapling, a Philadelphia lawyer can help you identify all your losses, assign them a fair financial value, and proactively demand restitution on your behalf.
Contact a Philadelphia Attorney for Assistance After a Surgical Stapling Injury
If health care professionals keep surgical staplers in good working order and use them properly, they can significantly speed up the healing process after an operation and minimize inflammation and pain at the incision site. However, surgical staplers can have serious defects that cause patients to suffer life-altering or even life-threatening harm.
A Philadelphia surgical stapling injury lawyer is ready to support you in filing a civil suit against the manufacturers or physicians responsible for causing you injury. Call Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, today to schedule a confidential consultation.
