Physicians sometimes refer to procedures as being routine. While the doctors may perform an operation several times, for many San Diegans, surgery is a new, sometimes fear-inducing event that seems like anything but routine. What’s more, a medical mistake during what should be a simple procedure can have grave consequences.
The mother of a 13-year-old girl is now grieving her daughter, whom she said died as a result of the hospital’s negligence. The teenager had been nervous about her tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, according to her grandmother. The girl suffered from sleep apnea, and the procedure was aimed to help her breathe easier at night.
However, after the operation at an Oakland hospital, the young girl began bleeding heavily and went into cardiac arrest. As a result, her brain was deprived of oxygen for too long, and she was placed on life support. As her family plans to continue to keep the girl on life support, the hospital has stated that it will conduct an investigation into what went wrong. The National Institute of Health states that having sleep apnea is not associated with an increased risk of death or brain injury.
The family may choose to pursue a medical malpractice claim. While they may never get the young lady back, they may be able to ease some of the financial burden of having someone on life support for an extended period of time. Attorneys who handle wrongful death cases can help a grieving family get the compensation they need to cover medical expenses as well as damages in the way of pain and suffering.
Source: Liberty Voice, “Brain Death for Teen Girl After Botched Tonsillectomy,” Juanita Poareo, Dec. 16, 2013.
