When individuals suffer from an ailment or injury (often as a result of a car crash or other type of personal injury), they tend to seek medical help from their personal physician or a specialist. When attention is sought out from a medical provider, the doctor who responds can suggest an array of treatment methods they feel are appropriate for the individual’s condition.
However, some doctors are quick to suggest that a patient undergo a surgical procedure instead of trying alternative methods first. Sometimes this “rush decision” to send an individual to surgery can become a cause for action in a medical malpractice claim, especially if it results in a worsened condition or outcome for the patient.
We often see this type of medical malpractice stemming from patients who seek help for an orthopedic injury or ailment. This involves the musculoskeletal system of the body, including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
Although sending a patient to surgery is often the best alternative a doctor can recommend, it is important that certain avenues of care are explored before going to surgery, especially if the individual has a joint injury or soft tissue strain. For example, conditions such as tennis elbow may be better handled (to begin with) through non-operative methods. This is a condition were an individual’s tendon fibers, which connect muscle to bone, become frayed or torn. The initial treatment is to have the patient eliminate the offending activity, apply ice to the injured area and take over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Courses of physical therapy may be requested and it has been shown that approximately 85% of this type of injury improves with rehabilitation exercises.
All of these interventions need to be conducted over time before considering immobilization or surgery, with the course of conservative non operative care lasting at least a year. If a patient endures surgery as a first alternative, he or she runs the risk of receiving infection, nerve and blood vessel damage, possible prolonged rehabilitation, loss of strength, loss of flexibility, and the need for further surgery.
If your physician “rushed” you into surgery, before giving conservative rehabilitation a try, you may have a case for medical negligence. If this happens, you always have the option of seeking legal help from a medical malpractice attorney. The Daytona Beach personal injury attorneys at Rue & Ziffra, P.A. have over 25 years of experience in representing the victims of nursing home abuse, medical malpractice, hospital negligence and other areas of practice.
Rue & Ziffra, P.A., proudly serves areas throughout and around Volusia County and Flagler County, Florida, including, Port Orange, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Ormond Beach, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Bunnell, Orange City, Sanford, Orlando and Leesburg.
The above entry is NOT LEGAL ADVICE and should not be intended or construed as such. It is intended only as general information. No individual reading it should act upon it. Reading this entry does not create any relationship between Rue & Ziffra, P.A. and individuals reading it. If you have questions or concerns, please seek professional legal counsel.
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