Medical Negligence in Post-Operative Treatment

What is Post-Operative Care?

Post-operative care is the medical treatment and monitoring you receive after a surgical procedure. The purpose of post-operative care is multifarious and includes the doctor’s and/or nurse’s ability to observe the patient’s condition through recovery and to prescribe the appropriate medications. 

Thus, your healthcare provider’s duty of care, as discussed below, does not end when surgery is complete, but will extend until the post-operative recovery period is complete. When healthcare providers fail to closely monitor patients in their post-operative care, they may be liable for medical negligence if injury results.

Medical Standard of Care 

Any healthcare professional providing treatment or services to you owes you a duty of care known as the “medical standard of care” – the duty to provide treatment or services with a level of care that a reasonably competent and skilled healthcare professional with a similar background and in the same specialty would provide under the circumstances. This standard is precisely what Mr. da Costa and his associates use to determine the level of negligence required to state a valid cause of action for medical negligence and to passionately represent your interests.

Mr. da Costa has a wide breadth of experience in post-operative medical negligence cases and can discern when healthcare providers fall short in their medical duty of care during the postoperative period. You owe it to yourself to consult with a highly skilled and experienced attorney to understand whether you can obtain financial compensation for injuries that result from negligent post-operative care.

The Dangers of Post-Operative Negligence

Medical negligence during the post-operative period after surgery can pose many dangers to your health and well-being. Two of the most severe and immediate threats are infection and blood clots, which are further discussed below. Another physically and emotionally taxing risk is a prolonged recovery, which can severely impede your path to full recovery and your ability to resume normal activity.

  • Infection: Surgery always entails some level of risk, and unfortunately, infection is the most common result of post-operative negligence. A healthcare provider’s duty after surgery includes following the proper procedures to prevent infection. For example, checking vital signs, analyzing blood test results, and ensuring sanitization of the equipment being used in your post-operative care are likely to be perceived by a court as baseline requirements under the medical standard of care.
  • Blood Clots: Your risk for developing blood clots is significantly increased following surgery. This is because you are typically stagnant in bed for long periods. At a minimum, your healthcare professional should help you perform a light exercise (if possible) to increase blood flow, use compression garments, and discuss medications that you can take to help prevent blood clotting. 


Reach Out Today

Paul M. da Costa and his team at Sarno da Costa D’Aniello Maceri LLC will tirelessly advocate on your behalf to assist you in obtaining compensation for your injury resulting from post-operative medical negligence. Contact us today to set up a consultation and discuss your case with an experienced professional.