An orthopedic surgeon from a state outside Illinois is being sued. A former patient claims that the doctor engaged in surgical negligence when he negligently placed a screw in the wrong place in his back. This made it necessary for the man to undergo two additional surgeries, increasing his medical expenses as well as his pain and suffering.
The plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 26, 2012, he suffered a traumatic back injury that was work related. That is when he saw the defendant as a patient. On April 10, 2014, he had surgery on his spine. He claims that not only was the screw put in the wrong place, but also that the surgeon did not use sufficient bone to correctly perform the fusion.
His second surgery occurred on Dec. 8, 2014, which was performed by a different surgeon. This surgery was to remove the screw. A third surgery on April 28, 2015, was to remove an intrabody cage to utilize an anterior approach.
The amount in damages that the plaintiff is seeking is unspecified. The damages claimed are for mental anguish, pain and disability, medical expenses and the inability to earn wages. He accuses the defendant of unacceptable standards of care, failing to assess the outcome and misplacing surgical hardware in the patient’s body.
Illinois patients who have suffered an injury or disability due to surgical negligence may choose to file a civil suit. Local attorneys experienced in handling medical malpractice claims can guide those individuals in determining exactly what went wrong. They can also provide ongoing support and assistance in presenting a claim in civil court and seeking financial relief appropriate to the damages sustained.
Source: louisianarecord.com, “Man sues surgeon following alleged botched back surgery“, Andrey Burin, July 15, 2015
