Gallbladder surgery is a procedure performed to remove the gallbladder, often due to digestive problems or gallstones. Gallbladders can be removed through open surgery or through a procedure known as laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This minimally invasive approach involves removal of the gallbladder using a small incision and a medical device known as a laparoscope, a thin tube-like instrument with a camera attached.
Medical Malpractice & Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Like any other surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy entails risks. However, medical professionals have the legal duty to minimize risks and to uphold a standard of care so that patients do not suffer preventable harm. Examples of medical or negligence that can harm patients during this procedure include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Perforation of the bile duct / failing to repair the error
- Severe cuts of the common bile duct
- Infections
Although medical professionals and surgeons are trained and monitored closely, medical errors still occur. When determining whether medical malpractice happened during a gallbladder surgery, an experienced attorney can evaluate all circumstances surrounding the incident. In the case of bile duct, or bowel, perforation, factors to consider would include the severity of the cut, how long it took to detect the cut or error, and what efforts were made to repair the error, including additional surgery.
If you or someone you loved has suffered harm during or after a gallbladder surgery, you can learn more about your rights and whether you have a case by contacting a Washington, DC medical malpractice lawyer from The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates. Call 202.223.4488 for a free consultation. Our legal team serves clients throughout the DC metro area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia.
Dr. Michael M. Wilson is an attorney and a physician who earned his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his legal and medical degrees from Georgetown University. He has focused in the area of medical malpractice for more than three decades and secured more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the country. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.
