Van Wey, Metzler & Williams is one of the leading Dallas law firms with expertise in surgical error cases. Our esteemed team of surgical error attorneys is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation for victims of traumatic injuries resulting from surgical negligence. With a reputation for excellence and a relentless commitment to our clients, we bring our extensive experience and unwavering advocacy to each case we handle.
Unwavering Commitment, Proven Results
We understand that any surgery is stressful for the patient and their loved ones. We are placed in a position of demonstrating extreme trust. We literally put our lives in the hands of health care providers that we may know little about.
Surgical errors occur far more frequently than they should and many of these errors are preventable. Some amount to “near misses” while others destroy or end lives.
We have helped countless patients and their families when tragedy has unexpectedly occurred. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we take pride in being a highly-skilled law firm with a proven track record of success in catastrophic surgical malpractice claims.
Our unwavering dedication to achieving justice and securing favorable outcomes for our clients has established us as the premier choice for compassionate and resolute legal representation.
Your Trusted Advocate
If you, or someone you care about, has suffered serious or fatal injuries due to surgical negligence, you deserve a trusted advocate by your side. Our team understands the complexities of both the medical and legal systems and possesses the expertise to navigate these challenging cases effectively. We are committed to fighting for your rights and pursuing the compensation you deserve from all responsible parties within the healthcare system.
Van Wey, Metzler & Williams houses a team of experienced trial lawyers who specialize in catastrophic surgical error cases, serving clients not only in Dallas, TX but also nationwide. While our expertise spans various areas within medical malpractice, we invite you to reach out for a complimentary consultation, regardless of the specific circumstances surrounding your severe personal injuries caused by doctor or hospital error.
Our Surgical Error Practice Areas Include, but Are Not Limited to:
Anesthesia Errors:
Anesthesia errors encompass a range of mistakes that can occur during the administration of anesthesia. These errors may include inaccurate dosage calculations, improper monitoring of vital signs, failure to consider a patient’s medical history or allergies, or errors in drug administration.
Bowel Perforation:
Bowel perforation refers to a hole or rupture in the wall of the intestine, which can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening complications. These injuries may arise from surgical errors, instrument-related trauma, or complications arising from medical interventions. Bowel perforation injuries can result in leakage of bowel contents into the abdominal cavity, leading to infection, sepsis, damage to surrounding organs, and death.
Hysterectomy and Gynecologic Surgical Malpractice:
Sometimes bowel perforations can occur due to the proximity of the bowel to the area being operated on. However, any inadvertent bowel injuries should be discovered before the patient is taken out of the OR. If not discovered and corrected promptly, this can result in horrific injuries and death.
Retained Foreign Objects:
Retained foreign objects refer to the unintentional retention of surgical instruments, sponges, or other foreign items inside a patient’s body after surgery. Despite stringent surgical protocols, such errors can occur due to miscounts, distractions, or communication breakdowns among the surgical team. The presence of a retained foreign object can lead to infections, internal injuries, organ damage, and other devastating complications.
Hypoxic Brain Injury:
Hypoxic brain injury results from a decrease in oxygen supply to the brain. During surgery, anesthesia-related factors, such as inadequate oxygenation, respiratory issues, or complications in airway management, can lead to hypoxia (insufficient oxygen) or anoxia (complete lack of oxygen). These conditions can cause significant damage to brain cells and result in long-term cognitive impairments, motor dysfunction, memory loss, and, in severe cases, permanent disability or death.
Surgical Fires/Burns:
Surgical burn injuries are a specific type of burn injury due to surgical fires that can erupt on or in the patient’s body during surgical procedures. These are Never-Should-Ever-Happen events that unfortunately still occur. Surgical fires can occur any time all three of the following elements are present:
- Ignition source (e.g., fiber optic light sources, electrosurgical units, lasers)
- Fuel source (e.g., alcohol-based skin preparation agents, surgical drapes, the patient)
- Oxidizer (e.g., nitrous oxide, oxygen, room air)
Surgical burns can cause significant damage to the skin and underlying tissues, leading to pain, scarring, and serious, sometimes fatal, complications.
Wrong Site Surgery:
These surgical errors occur when a medical procedure or surgery is performed on the wrong site. Similar errors include a surgery performed on the wrong patient, or an incorrect surgical procedure being performed. Such mistakes can lead to unnecessary harm, prolonged suffering, scarring, loss of function, and a loss of trust in the healthcare system.
Severe Nerve Damage:
Severe nerve damage can result from errors that involve nerve compression, direct nerve injury during surgery, or neurotoxicity caused by anesthesia medications. Nerve damage can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life and may require long-term medical management, physical therapy, or surgical interventions. Proper positioning, careful monitoring, and meticulous surgical techniques are essential to minimize the risk of nerve damage during surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries:
Surgical errors, such as incorrect positioning, improper use of surgical instruments, or mishandling of delicate spinal structures, can lead to severe trauma and injury to the spinal cord. These injuries can result in partial or complete loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury, potentially leading to paralysis and significant disability.
Gallbladder Surgery Malpractice:
Complications can arise when a medical professional deviates from the standard of care during gallbladder surgery. Possible issues include bile duct injuries, infection, bleeding, organ perforation, and postoperative complications such as bile leakage or formation of gallstones in the bile ducts. These complications can lead to severe pain, prolonged hospitalization, the need for additional surgeries, and even life-threatening conditions.
Robotic Surgical Malpractice:
While many people are led to believe robotic surgeries are safer, this is not necessarily true. Serious and life-threatening injuries can occur due to mechanical failure, operator inexperience, or burns due to electrical arcing.
Interventional Pain Procedures:
While these procedures are presented as very low risk, there can be significant risk to the patient when these procedures go wrong. The widespread use of propofol for anesthesia can be dangerous, resulting in serious injuries including brain damage, spinal cord injury, and death.
Surgical Negligence Resulting in Death
Tragically, surgical negligence can lead to fatal outcomes. If a surgeon or other medical professionals involved in the surgical process deviate from the accepted standard of care, serious errors can occur, resulting in death. A tragic and preventable death can obviously be devastating to the family, emotionally and oftentimes financially. Our team brings a wealth of experience and understanding to the broad and enduring harm the death of a loved one causes.
Non Board-Certified Physicians
Studies show that approximately 80% of all malpractice claims are against non board-certified physicians and surgeons. Board Certification does not ensure competence. However, a competent physician should be able to pass the oral and written examination given by their specialty organization.
Hospital Apologies and Risk Managers
All major hospitals have personnel and policies designed to identify preventable medical errors. These risk managers sometimes approach injured patients and attempt to reach a monetary settlement with them before the patient tries to hire an attorney. In some cases, the offer may be fair, but it is always advisable that the patient is represented by an experienced lawyer.
The hospital will undoubtedly be represented by expert legal counsel whose goal is to get the best deal for the hospital. Most patients will be at a disadvantage and will not receive just compensation they deserve without a dedicated attorney fighting for them.
Determining the Viability of Your Case
We understand the emotional distress and physical pain and suffering that can result from surgical errors. Nevertheless, it is crucial to determine whether your case constitutes surgical malpractice and warrants legal action. Our skilled attorneys will thoroughly investigate the facts surrounding your situation to determine the presence of surgical negligence.
As top-rated Dallas medical malpractice lawyers, we understand not every surgery turns out as expected, and a poor outcome is not necessarily due to a surgical mistake. However, if a member of your surgical team deviated from the specified standard of care, it may be considered medical negligence.
Contact Our Premier Dallas Surgical Error Lawyers
Take the first step towards justice. Contact us today to benefit from the expertise of our surgical error attorneys at Van Wey, Metzler & Williams. We are renowned for providing exceptional legal assistance and pride ourselves on being one of the top surgical error law firms in Texas.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
To speak with us directly, call (469) 809-5262 or toll-free (866) 329-0765 for a complimentary consultation. Or fill out our contact form online.
Fighting for Your Rights
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, we are deeply committed to our clients’ well-being. When you or your loved one has suffered due to surgical negligence, we prioritize your needs and treat you as an individual, not just as a case. We will fight tirelessly to ensure that you receive the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our legal services are provided on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we successfully recover compensation for you. With Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, you can rest assured that you are in the hands of the most qualified and dedicated surgical error attorneys in Dallas.
Schedule your no-obligation free consultation today to explore your legal options and take the first step towards justice.
