Are You The Victim of Liposuction Malpractice?
When taking into consideration all the types of plastic surgery available today, liposuction, whether combined with other procedures or on its own, is considered to be one of the most dangerous forms of elective procedures. One study that was conducted by two plastic surgeons in California several years ago found that the approximated death rate from liposuction was one in five thousand, which is roughly twenty times higher than other types of cosmetic surgeries.
Most deaths from liposuction come from issues that are significantly compounded when the surgery is done in an office setting. Heart rates that drop suddenly, along with dropping blood pressure can be fatal if the office is not properly equipped with emergency apparatus.
Liposuction is also quite dangerous because in order to perform the surgery, doctors suction the fat out of the patient by repeatedly stabbing a device that suctions deep into the body, which poses a higher risk of mistakenly puncturing a vital organ. Blood clot related issues can also occur following liposuction because patients are sent home very soon after the procedure, with no medical professional to monitor their condition.
Florida is one state that clearly shows just how risky liposuction procedures can be. This state is highly regarded for its regulations on plastic surgery and has become a nation example for other states to follow. Here, in less than a two year period, at least eight people died from undergoing liposuction.
While the data in Florida is known to be true, it is harder to get a grasp on the national numbers involving deaths from plastic surgery. This is because there is no way, currently, to keep a national tally of sorts. There are a few states that keep their own stats, such as California and Florida, but the majority of states do not, which makes it very hard to compare data.
Florida decided to take stronger action after there were three high profile cases in which the patients died after undergoing liposuction and tummy tuck combination procedures. The state put in place an emergency moratorium banning any type of double cosmetic procedure from being conducted in a doctor’s office for a minimum of ninety days, while their board studied how safe each procedure is on its own.
As is the case with any type of surgery, cosmetic procedures come with serious risks and the potential for complications. Many people believe that since they are not for done because of a medical need or for a medical purpose that they are safe, and no harm can come from them. This issue coupled with doctors that may lack experience, qualifications, properly trained staff, or an adequately stocked medical facility ups the risks to a very serious level. Since the majority of these procedures are not done in a hospital setting, there is a greater risk of complications and side effects, such as infections happening.
To make matters worse, doctors often do not communicate effectively with their patients to advise them of the potential risks and possibility of side effects and complications. This further perpetuates the belief that these procedures are safe and nothing to take too seriously.
Unfortunately, the outcome of liposuction procedures can leave patients seriously harmed. Patients can suffer life threatening infections, disfigurement, loss of feeling to a particular area of their body, can suffer strokes, heart attacks, and in some cases can even die because of complications.
If you or someone you know has suffered any type of harm following a liposuction procedure, you should know that you do have legal rights and that you can take legal action to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their actions.
The best course of action you can take is to contact a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical negligence and malpractice. These legal professionals are quite skilled in this area of the law and will handle your case from start to finish. Personal injury attorneys will meet with you to discuss the details of your injuries and will collect medical records and evidence in order to ensure your case is viable. Once your case has been deemed viable, your attorney will bring forth legal action against all parties involved and will take all steps necessary to help you obtain the justice you so rightly deserve.
Medical professionals and medical facilities have teams of legal counsel who work hard to protect their interests at all costs. These lawyers may contact you in an effort to get you to drop your claim and settle quickly out of court. Doing so could cost you a great deal and may not cover you in every way necessary. You should never attempt to file this type of legal claim on your own, or agree to any type of settlement without first consulting with a personal injury attorney. This will ensure you are fully protected and not being steam rolled.
Since most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, you do not have to worry about funding your claim in advance, or as it winds its way through the court system. Most of the time, you do not have to pay anything until the time your case is settled. This issue alone can mean a tremendous deal to someone who has been a victim of liposuction malpractice as it removes the worry of an added expense, while allowing you to focus your time and energy on your personal recovery.
While a personal injury attorney cannot reverse the damage that has already been done, they can help you to rebuild your life. Compensation can be sought for past, present, and future medical bills, a loss of income, pain and suffering, and various other expenses that were incurred because of the negligence or malpractice. In the event that you have lost a loved one because of a complication of liposuction, a wrongful death claim may also be filed. Taking legal action is not only smart for personal reasons; it may also help to prevent other innocent patients from suffering the same consequences down the road.
