When you attend the hospital for surgery, it may be no exaggeration to say that you’re putting your life into the hands of the surgeons who are operating on you. You have to trust them to take care of you.
Your care, however, should not end when you leave the operating table. When the hospital fails to attend to you properly in the postoperative period, it can have serious consequences for your recovery.
What is postoperative negligence?
This occurs when you face a complication or problem in the period after your surgery which is a result of the medical staff’s failure to follow procedures. You are owed a continuing duty of care during your post-op recovery and should receive regular monitoring to make sure your vitals are all in order. By not carrying out these checks, you could then be at risk of numerous illnesses.
You’re at risk of an infection
This can happen when there is a failure to regularly check and clean your surgical sites. While you expect a hospital to be one of the cleanest possible places, this is dependent on the hospital staff keeping it that way which unfortunately does not always happen. An infection can develop quickly and may be missed if you are not given the proper, regular medical attention you need.
Blood clots can occur
Depending on your situation, your surgery may require you to be on bed rest for a significant period. This can cause blood clots to occur. Depending on the situation, you may need to be provided with medication and compression stockings by the medical staff looking after you to help prevent this.
Finding yourself a victim of medical malpractice can have catastrophic and even life-changing consequences. Understanding more about your rights to claim compensation can help you financially with your recovery.
