Heart surgery is one of the most serious operations a person can have. These extremely complicated and challenging surgeries require exceptional care and skill. Even under perfect conditions, complications can arise, requiring immediate and split-second decisions to ensure that the patient survives the operation. Even a minor error could cause injury or death.
While sometimes, heart surgery proves unsuccessful in treating the underlying condition, unfortunately, there are also examples of a doctor’s negligence resulting in catastrophic illness, injury, or death to a patient. In other cases, the pacemaker implant itself is either defective or flawed in some way, causing injury or death.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury or loss related to medical malpractice or product defects after heart surgery, learn how a Los Angeles angioplasty and pacemaker implants lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Call us today at (800) 614-2067 for a free case review with a team member.
Understanding Angioplasty and Medical Malpractice
According to the Mayo Clinic, angioplasty is a medical procedure that attempts to restore blood flow through an artery. A surgeon threads a thin tube through a blood vessel either in the groin or arm to the affected artery. The tube will have a small balloon on the end of it, and when it reaches its target, the surgeon inflates the balloon, removing the blockage and widening the artery as a result.
Unfortunately, there are times when heart procedures such as angioplasty result in an unsuccessful outcome for the patient. An unsuccessful surgery does not necessarily result from medical malpractice. The practice of medicine often results in failures entirely outside the control of the doctor or medical team.
However, medical negligence can occur during an angioplasty procedure that could rise to the level of malpractice. Some of these negligent acts include:
- Overinflating the surgical balloon
- Release of plaque into the arteries
- Incorrect incision site
- Failure to remove all foreign objects from the body cavity
- Operating on the wrong area of the heart
- Improper administration of anesthesia
- Failure to follow up with the patient after the surgery
If you suspect that any complications that you or a loved one suffered following an angioplasty directly relate to the negligence of a surgeon or other medical professional, a Los Angeles angioplasty and pacemaker implants lawyer can help you determine if you have grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for a free case review with a team member.
Medical Malpractice Related to Pacemaker Implantation
You might also have a condition that requires having a pacemaker implanted. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, a doctor recommends implanting a pacemaker for patients who have slow or irregular heartbeats, called an arrhythmia. A pacemaker essentially normalizes a person’s heartbeat and will hopefully improve their overall quality of life.
There are, of course, inherent risks involved in any surgery, such as the implantation of a pacemaker. However, while a patient might accept those risks, they do not expect a surgeon or medical practitioner’s negligence to cause them injury or harm either immediately before, during, or after the pacemaker implantation. Negligence during pacemaker implantation could result in the patient suffering:
- Internal bleeding
- Infections
- Collapsed lungs
- Nerve damage
- Blood clots
- Death
Some complications related to pacemaker implantation do not cause immediate signs or symptoms. Post-operative bleeding, for example, can take time to cause symptoms. Therefore, all patients should receive constant monitoring for any challenges or problems resulting from their pacemaker implantation.
For a free legal consultation with a Angioplasty and Pacemaker Implants Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Product Liability Claims Related to Defective or Malfunctioning Pacemakers
In some cases, the surgeon may perform the pacemaker implant correctly, but the pacemaker itself has a defective part or component, or it malfunctions in some way. When this occurs, a victim does not have a medical malpractice claim, but rather a product liability claim against the pacemaker manufacturer and vendor.
Product manufacturers and sellers have a duty and responsibility to ensure that their products are safe to use when they enter the stream of commerce. If you have injuries or suffered harm from a faulty or defective pacemaker, you have the legal right to sue the manufacturer and seller of the pacemaker for any resulting injuries or losses.
However, if a physician or surgeon implanted a pacemaker after the manufacturer had issued a recall notice, the manufacturer had appropriately performed due diligence to remove their defective or faulty pacemaker from the marketplace. The surgeon or physician did not take the time to ensure that the pacemaker was safe for implantation, which would fall under medical malpractice.
Los Angeles Angioplasty and Pacemaker Implants Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Wrongful Death in Angioplasty or Pacemaker Implantation Cases
If your loved one died because of an angioplasty or pacemaker implantation involving medical negligence, you might have grounds to pursue justice on their behalf. Wrongful death cases have the same legal requirements as medical malpractice cases, including the same statute of limitations set out in Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 340.5—either three years after the date of injury or one year after discovering the injury, whichever comes first.
In many wrongful death cases, the family can claim additional medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and funeral expenses that resulted directly from a medical practitioner’s negligence.
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Consider How a Los Angeles Angioplasty and Pacemaker Implants Lawyer Can Help You
While every surgery has risks involved, unfortunately, circumstances might arise in which a patient suffers injuries or harm because of a medical professional’s negligence. As a result, a patient can suffer a catastrophic illness, medical complications, or even death.
If you suffered any injuries or harm, or a loved one died as a result of medical negligence related to an angioplasty or pacemaker implant, learn how a Los Angeles angioplasty and pacemaker implants lawyer can fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 614-2067 today and speak with a team member about how we can build a medical malpractice or product liability case to ensure your legal rights remain protected.
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