A bowel perforation is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. If a bowel perforation was caused by medical negligence, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim.
Medical malpractice lawsuits require thorough investigations. If you’ve suffered a bowel perforation due to a doctor’s negligence, a Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice lawyer can help you pursue compensation.
What to Do If a Bowel Perforation Was Caused by Medical Negligence
If you believe a medical mistake caused your bowel perforation, it’s important to:
- Access your medical records: You have the right to review your complete records, which may reveal mistakes in your treatment.
- Document your symptoms: Keep a detailed log of your symptoms, treatments, and communications with healthcare providers.
- Consult an attorney: Do not confront the medical staff who treated you. Instead, reach out to our medical malpractice attorneys to learn about your legal options.
Common Medical Errors Leading to Bowel Perforation
Bowel perforations after medical procedures are often caused by preventable mistakes, including:
- Surgical instrument misplacement: Retained tools or sponges can puncture or irritate the bowel, sometimes requiring additional surgery.
- Delayed diagnosis: Overlooked symptoms or insufficient imaging may result in severe infections, sepsis, or extended hospital stays.
- Improper procedure technique: Mistakes during surgery or endoscopic procedures can damage the intestinal wall.
Signs and Symptoms of a Bowel Perforation
After intestinal surgery or procedures, watch for sudden or severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea, or swelling near the surgical site. Persistent vomiting, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty passing gas or stool can also indicate a bowel perforation.
Communicate any changes to your healthcare team, even if they seem minor. Early recognition and reporting of symptoms can prevent complications.
Who Is Liable for a Bowel Perforation?
Liability for a bowel perforation depends on the circumstances of the injury. If the perforation resulted from a preventable medical error, such as surgical mistakes, improper technique, or a delayed diagnosis, the presiding medical professionals may be held legally accountable.
Hospitals can also share liability if staff failed to follow proper protocols, maintain safe surgical environments, or ensure adequate supervision and training. In some cases, multiple parties—including surgeons, nurses, and the facility itself—may be jointly responsible.
Our lawyers can review medical records and consult experts to gain an understanding of the standard of care that was expected in your situation and determine whether it was violated.
How Do I Prove Liability in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
To win a medical malpractice claim in Florida, you must prove that a healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure directly caused your injury. Simply showing that a mistake occurred is not enough—there must be clear evidence of negligence.
Expert testimony is essential to a strong claim. A qualified medical professional can explain how the provider’s actions fell short of accepted standards and caused you harm. Our attorneys can consult experts on your behalf and guide you through the claims process.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?
Bowel perforation caused by a medical error can have long-term consequences. Victims may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including:
- Medical expenses: You can recover the cost of current and future treatments related to your injury.
- Lost wages: You can be compensated for income you lost due to your inability to work after the injury.
- Pain and suffering: You can seek damages for the physical and emotional distress caused by the injury.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: You can pursue additional compensation if your daily activities or quality of life are permanently affected.
- Ongoing care or rehabilitation: You can be reimbursed for the cost of continued medical care, therapy, or other rehabilitation needs.
Why Choose The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine?
Your legal representation can have a significant impact on the outcome of your medical malpractice case. Floridians choose The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine because of our:
- Track record: We’ve recovered over $450 million for our clients.
- Accessibility: Our attorneys will only be a phone call away.
- Contingency fee structure: You won’t pay anything unless we recover compensation for you.
- Experience: We’ve been serving Florida injury victims since 2005.
Understanding Bowel Perforation and Its Causes
A bowel perforation occurs when a hole or tear develops in the intestinal wall, allowing bacteria and waste to enter the abdominal cavity. This can quickly lead to infection and serious complications.
Medical interventions can also cause perforations. Surgical errors, complications during endoscopic procedures, or improper use of instruments may accidentally injure the bowel. Awareness of these risks and early detection of symptoms are crucial to proper treatment.
Contact a Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today
A bowel perforation caused by a medical mistake is a serious injury that can have lasting consequences. If you or one of your loved ones has suffered this kind of injury, a medical malpractice attorney from Anidjar & Levine can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been harmed due to a doctor’s negligence, there’s no time to waste. Schedule a free consultation to start building your claim today.
We Can Help.
