Colon cancer is the second-most diagnosed cancer in this country. It is also the second-leading cause of cancer death. One of the most effective tools for detecting colon cancer is a colonoscopy. Although this is a fairly safe procedure, unfortunately, preventable errors do occur and patients are left with serious injuries or they can even die from these errors. If you or a loved one has been injured during this procedure, contact a North Carolina malpractice attorney for assistance.
Colonoscopy Complications
A colonoscopy allows a gastroenterologist to see and evaluate the patient’s colon for signs of cancer. It is recommended that anyone who is 50 years of age or older should have a colonoscopy on a regular basis. The risks of serious injury is not a high one, however, there are potential complications from the procedure that all patients should be made aware of. These include:
- Perforations: Occasionally, during the procedure, a hole is punched in the patient’s bowel. This causes fecal matter to leak into the patient’s abdominal cavity, causing sepsis.
- Bleeding: Many patients do have some minor bleeding during the procedure; however, there are cases where the patient begins to lose significant amounts of blood which requires transfusions or even surgery.
- Infection: If the instruments used during the procedure have not been sterilized properly, patients can develop serious infections.
- Cardiopulmonary complications: Because patients are sedated during the procedure, there are risks for heart or lung complications.
Colonoscopy errors can occur for several reasons, including error on the part of medical personnel, failure to diagnose an issue, and failure to quickly treat any complications that arise.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney in Virginia Today
Virginia injury law generally enables victims of medical malpractice to pursue financial compensation for the losses they have suffered due to the actions of medical staff. These claims can be pursued through a medical malpractice lawsuit. Our law firm has successfully represented many clients and their families who suffered serious injury or illness because of the negligence or carelessness of a doctor or other medical staff.
We understand the overwhelming stress these types of mistakes can have on families and work diligently to obtain financial compensation because of the harm victims suffered when medical staff failed to provide the necessary medical treatment. Call (833) 997-1774 for your free case evaluation and to find out how we can help.
RELATED CONTENT