Is My Child Safe During Surgery?

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Shapiro Law Group

It is always tragic when children are affected by medical mistakes. Take the case of a Florida family that lost their 11-year-old son to a mistake made after surgery.

On March 20^th, 2013, the 11-year-old boy underwent heart valve surgery, and something went wrong. What went wrong is currently being contested before the Florida Board of Medicine, and an Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital pediatric surgeon has been accused of medical malpractice.

Only five weeks after surgery, the 11-year-old boy died, and his parents are alleging that the surgeon implanted a mechanical heart valve in the wrong position. According to the parents, who want the surgeon’s license revoked, the doctor and his team had all of the proper tools and training to detect the problem before it led to the death of their son.

The surgeon accused of medical malpractice has been fined $40,000 by the Florida Board of Medicine, and a civil lawsuit filed by the parents of the boy is ongoing.

How Common Are Medical Mistakes Involving Children?

“Medical mistake” is a broad term that can mean anything from a mistake during surgery to prescribing an unsafe dosage of medication. A study in the journal Pediatrics found that 11 percent of hospitalized children were affected by medication errors. In one case, two newborn twins almost died when they were given 1,000 times the safe dose of a blood thinner.

Parents who have been in similar tragic situations have many questions, such as if the surgeon is liable for the wrongful death or injury of their child. In some cases, the doctor or hospital is responsible and the parents could benefit by contacting a medical malpractice attorney.

Continue following our blog for regular updates on medical malpractice cases and information.

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