Surgical operations on the spine are historically complex, invasive, and sometimes high-risk. However, in recent years, laser spine surgery has been heralded as a minimally invasive alternative treatment option for everything from herniated discs to the removal of tumors. Like any surgical procedure, of course, laser spine surgery is not without risks, and it can be uniquely dangerous if the operating doctors are not as diligent as they should be.

Filing suit over medical negligence is far from simple, but can be especially challenging when involving serious injuries allegedly caused by a fairly new procedure. If you have been harmed by a doctor’s negligence while undergoing laser spine surgery, contact our firm’s skilled surgical error attorneys. A Philadelphia laser spine surgery malpractice lawyer from Marrone Law Firm, LLC could help you enforce your rights and improve your chances of getting the restitution you deserve.

Possible Grounds for a Laser Spine Surgery Malpractice Claim

Medical procedures do not always result in ideal outcomes for patients. Although upsetting, unsuccessful or harmful operations do not necessarily qualify as legally actionable malpractice. Instead, medical malpractice refers to situations in which a physician directly causes or allows a patient to suffer serious physical harm by failing to meet the “standard of care” owed to them through their established doctor-patient relationship. This standard of care is often measured by considering what another physician with the same skills and experience would have done under the same circumstances.

Examples of errors that could potentially serve as valid grounds for a lawsuit over laser spine surgery include:

  • Lack of precision while using a laser to conduct spinal surgery, resulting in otherwise preventable damage to bodily tissues
  • Excessive heat from the laser causing nerve damage near the surgery site
  • Damage to sensory nerves resulting in post-operative numbness and/or weakness
  • Infections stemming from unsanitary conditions during surgery
  • Failure by a doctor to clearly communicate the risks of the procedure and obtain informed consent before operating
  • Failure by a doctor to provide appropriate post-operative care and instructions for how a patient can minimize their risk of injury

A Philadelphia laser spine surgery malpractice attorney could examine a particular set of circumstances to determine whether an injured individual has a viable claim during an initial consultation.

Recovering for Short-Term and Long-Term Damages

Financial compensation alone cannot make up for the immense harm a serious surgical error can cause, especially if that error results in permanent damage to the spinal cord or other vital nerve endings. Civil restitution can, however, reduce the impact of specific physical, financial, and psychological losses stemming from a doctor’s negligence, allowing the impacted patient a better overall quality of life.

Depending on the details of a case, it may be necessary to incorporate both immediate damages, such as emergency medical bills and lost short-term work wages, and expected future damages, like lost working ability and lost enjoyment of life, into a claim of this nature. Guidance from a knowledgeable Philadelphia laser spine operation malpractice lawyer could be vital to identifying all losses that should be included in a specific claim and demanding the appropriate amount of compensation.

Talk to a Philadelphia Laser Spine Surgery Malpractice Attorney About Your Legal Options

Laser spine surgery may be a helpful option for some patients while being entirely inappropriate for others. No matter what, patients deserve to be fully informed of the hazards associated with a surgical procedure and receive high-quality care from their surgeons throughout treatment.

If you received substandard care and experienced significant injury or illness as a result, a Philadelphia laser spine surgery malpractice lawyer could help you take legal action. Call Marrone Law Firm, LLC today to learn more.