Surgical fires are preventable medical errors that occur when an ignition source comes into contact with flammable materials in the operating room. Though the vast majority of surgeries are performed without incident, surgical fires do happen, and they can have devastating consequences.
When a surgical fire occurs, patients can suffer serious burns, disfigurement, and even death. This is why surgical fires in the operating room should never happen. While some fires are caused by factors outside of a medical professional’s control, such as electrical problems or malfunctioning equipment, many are the result of negligence on the part of the surgeon or other medical staff.
The extent of the patient’s injuries can also be attributed to negligence. If a patient suffers only minor burns in a surgical fire, it is likely because the medical staff took quick and appropriate action to extinguish the fire. However, if a patient sustains severe burns or dies as a result of a surgical fire, it may be because the medical staff did not act quickly enough or did not have the proper equipment to put out the fire.
Medical malpractice law in Fort Worth allows patients who have been injured by surgical fires to recover compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a surgical fire, it is important to speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your rights and options under medical malpractice law in Fort Worth. Contact Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, PLLC today to learn more.