If you or a loved one recently underwent a surgical procedure, and are suffering from a combination of the symptoms below, you should strongly consider seeking medical attention and determining whether you’ve suffered a cut bowel injury. These are the most common symptoms:
- Abdominal pain – severe
- Chills
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
What Exactly is a Cut Bowel?
The medical term of a cut bowel is a “perforated bowel.” This means that a small nick, cut, or hole has developed in your bowel allowing the contents of your bowel to leak into the abdominal cavity. This can cause an inflammation called peritonitis.
What Legal Rights Do I Have?
If you’ve suffered a cut bowel after undergoing a medical procedure, you may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice claim against the surgeon or medical professional who conducted the procedure. Many procedures are conducted laparoscopically which can lead to an increased risk of small nicks and cuts occurring during an invasive procedure.
Take, for example, a case we handled where an OB/GYN performed a procedure laparoscopically. The OB/GYN severed our client’s ureter during the operation and did not realize this injury occurred. Our client felt terrible shortly after the procedure and it was determined that she suffered a cut ureter. She was forced to under numerous surgical procedures in order to correct the injury. If that wasn’t bad enough, our client racked up approximately $100,000 in medical bills. Fortunately, she consulted with our Virginia medical malpractice law firm, and we were able to settle her case for $400,000.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
This depends on state law. In Virginia, the statute of limitations (i.e. the time limit on when to bring legal action against someone) is two years. But keep in mind that you should not wait to file a claim. The sooner you take action after your injury, the easier it will be to established a causal connection between your injury and the medical negligence of the doctor/surgeon.
To get more information about cut bowel injuries and the health risks associated with perforations, take a moment to review these videos and articles:
Virginia Medical Malpractice Lawyer Talks About Laparoscopic Injuries
Article on Bowel Perforation Injuries
In-depth Report on Common Surgical Errors