Making the decision to have a leg or other limb amputated is incredibly difficult. It’s hard to imagine life without one of your legs. Now imagine waking up from surgery and the doctor and his staff are standing around your bed and they look grim. Someone tells you that an error was made and the wrong leg has been amputated. But, that’s not all. The doctor then tells you that your other leg still needs to be amputated.
This may all sound like a bad dream to you, but the truth is that this sort of mistake does occur in operating rooms all over the world. In 2021, an Austrian doctor amputated the wrong leg from her patient.
Closer to home, operating on the wrong body part happens nearly 40 times per week in the U.S. These statistics are enough to give pause to anyone who is facing a surgical procedure.
What to do if this happens to you
This type of mistake is extremely costly and chances are your medical insurance will not pay for the remaining leg to be amputated. Doctors and hospitals carry medical malpractice insurance for situations such as this.
You have the right to be compensated by the doctor and the hospital for damages, which includes the cost of medical bills, wages lost due to your not being able to work and pain and suffering. (mentally and physically.) You may also be compensated for any modifications that need to be done to your home to accommodate your disability.
If you have been a victim of medical malpractice in the operating room, contact an experienced legal advisor as soon as possible. They can help you get the compensation you deserve.