Medical errors happen every day. They can range from relatively minor complications to severe negligence with extreme consequences. A recent story in The Daily Mail shows just how extreme these cases can become.
The story is made even more frightening by the fact that the error happened during what should have been a relatively minor outpatient procedure.
Lisa-Marie Carter, a 46-year-old woman, visited her doctor for what should have been the routine removal of an ovarian cyst. Unfortunately, according to Carter’s medical malpractice lawsuit, things did not go according to the routine.
Carter’s case alleges that while removing the cyst, the doctor performing the surgery also inadvertently nicked her bowel, and then failed to repair or even notice the damage. Carter noticed though, later that same day, when her incision opened and began to release fluid. The fluid contained the bacteria necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh eating bacteria.
When doctors finally discovered the surgeon’s error, they began removing parts of Carter’s stomach and intestines in an attempt to curb the spread of the bacteria. While necrotizing fasciitis exists harmlessly inside a human bowel, when it comes into contact with other organs, the results can be devastating.
In Carter’s case, the results were as terrifying as could be imagined. After performing eight surgeries in the space of twelve days, doctors realized that their patient’s lower legs and forearms were not receiving an adequate supply of blood. They determined that in order to save Carter’s life, they would need to amputate the affected areas.
Today, Carter is attending rehabilitation to learn how to use her new prosthetic limbs while waiting for her medical malpractice case to make its way through the courts. Thanks to a medical error, something that should have been a routine outpatient procedure ended up devastating a woman’s life forever.
Unfortunately, situations like Carter’s can happen to any patient at any medical facility, and when they do, the victim has a right to seek recourse under the law. If your life was altered by a health care provider’s negligence and you believe their behavior may constitute medical malpractice, contact Gilreath & Associates today for a free consultation.
