Wrong rib removed in surgery, medical malpractice suit filed

What was thought to be a relatively simple procedure became complicated after a surgeon removed the wrong part of a patient’s body and then allegedly lied about it, according to a medical malpractice suit filed against the surgeon who performed the operation. The operation was to remove a woman’s rib, but the resident, a doctor in training, removed the wrong one. Similarly, when a Maryland resident is caused serious harm by a medical professional’s negligence, the victim is typically entitled to file a medical malpractice suit against the party or parties believed to be responsible.

In May, 2015, the victim’s eighth rib contracted a lesion, so she underwent a procedure to have it removed. After the operation was complete, however, the woman complained of still feeling pain in the same exact area. A subsequent x-ray showed that the surgeon who had performed the procedure made a surgical error by removing the wrong rib and leaving metal coils that had been used during the procedure inside the woman.

The woman was informed of the error by a doctor not involved in the first surgery. He booked her to have a second surgery the following day, according to the suit. Before she could be operated on again, though, the first doctor contacted her and informed her that the second surgery was not necessary due to the fact that he had not removed the wrong rib but, instead, that he had simply not removed enough of it. The hospital where the resident works, Yale-New Haven, has made the acknowledgement that an error had been made in relation to this operation.

A successfully navigated medical malpractice suit typically results in the entry of a monetary judgement to compensate the victim for any and all damages that the victim suffered. This could be used to help cover hospital bills, pain and suffering, and lost pay, among other damages. Victims of medical malpractice in Maryland typically begin this process by consulting an experienced personal injury attorney who can best assess the validity of the claim as well as represent the victim’s best interests as the suit makes its way through a Maryland civil court.

Source: medicaldaily.com, “Medical Malpractice Suit: Doctor Removes Wrong Rib During Surgery, Lies To Cover Up Mistake“, Dana Dovey, March 25, 2016