While colonoscopies are a standard medical procedure, colonoscopy errors can still occur. While some of these errors might be foreseeable, they may be due to a provider’s failure to uphold the standard of care expected of them.
If you are suffering from signs of colonoscopy complications and believe your injuries were avoidable, the medical professionals involved in your procedure might have committed medical malpractice.
If you’ve suffered complications from a colonoscopy, contact Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico today. Our experienced Maryland medical malpractice lawyers can assess your individual case and help you determine whether you have a claim for compensation.
What Is a Colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is one of the main diagnostic tests for colon cancer and involves an examination of the inner lining of your large intestine and rectum.
Colonoscopies are routinely recommended for patients aged 50 or over or for individuals suffering from constipation, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, or rectal bleeding. While this is a routine procedure, it does not mean that colonoscopy errors do not occur.
How Long After a Colonoscopy Can Complications Arise?
Colonoscopy complications most frequently occur immediately following the procedure. However, it is not uncommon for complications to arise within the first few days after your procedure and, in rare cases, they can occur 1-2 weeks after your colonoscopy.
What Types of Injuries Can Complications from a Colonoscopy Cause?
Because colonoscopies involve sedation and the insertion of a tube or camera into the body, there is some risk of injury.
If your gastroenterologist fails to evaluate your risk factors before a colonoscopy, the likelihood of complications can increase. Some of the most common complications from a colonoscopy include the following.
Perforation of the Colon
Perforation of the colon can occur if doctors are not careful with the colonoscope. If your colon is perforated, the contents of your intestine can leak into your abdominal cavity.
This leakage is the most severe complication, as it can cause sepsis or long-term damage and requires surgical intervention to correct.
Post-polypectomy electrocoagulation syndrome can also cause colon perforation. This process involves removing polyps using electrical energy to burn them off the colon walls.
Bleeding
Bleeding can occur if the colon is perforated, but it is also a likely complication of removing polyps or taking a biopsy. Depending on the severity of the bleeding, surgical treatment may be necessary and can cause lasting damage.
Infection
You might suffer an infection if bacteria from the colon or large intestine enter the bloodstream through a perforation during a colonoscopy. There is also a chance that infection can occur if your medical provider fails to use properly sterilized equipment.
Complications from Anesthesia
Possible reactions to anesthesia can range from mild to life-threatening. An example of a mild reaction is taking longer to wake up than is normal, which could cause low blood pressure. More severe reactions to anesthesia include allergies, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and heart attack.
Complications from Existing Medical Conditions
If you already suffer from heart or lung disease, you are at a greater risk of complications during other medical procedures. If your doctors fail to consider your risk factors, this could be medical malpractice.
When Is a Colonoscopy Error Medical Malpractice?
Not all colonoscopy complications are the result of medical malpractice. Malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to follow the same standard of care that other providers with similar experience and background would use, and their failure causes a patient to suffer injury and damage.
A breach of the standard of care can result from either an action or a failure to act.
Two common ways healthcare providers breach their standard of care during a colonoscopy are:
- Failure to monitor. Medical personnel involved in a colonoscopy are responsible for monitoring vital signs and reactions to anesthesia. Failure to notice or react to distress can lead to long-term complications, including increased blood pressure or heart attack, that are typically avoidable when patients are appropriately monitored.
- Negligent postoperative care. Ignoring or misinterpreting symptoms after the procedure is complete can lead to greater injury, especially in the case of a perforated bowel or internal bleeding. If medical professionals fail to act with reasonable urgency in postoperative care, long-term injury can increase.
If you suffer signs of colonoscopy complications, don’t wait to contact an attorney. In Maryland, you have only five years from when the injury occurred or three years from when you discovered the injury to file your claim.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Medical Malpractice Claim?
There are two types of damages generally available in medical malpractice claims: economic damages and noneconomic damages. Economic damages are measurable harms.
These include medical costs like hospital bills, in-home care expenses, and medical accessories. Economic damages also include wages lost while you’re recovering from injury, and can consist of lost earning potential if you cannot return to the same line of work.
Noneconomic damages are intangible losses that can be harder to calculate. They include things like pain and suffering caused by the injury and loss of enjoyment of life. Since these damages are intangible, Maryland caps the total recovery amount for noneconomic damages.
For an injury occurring in 2024, the cap for noneconomic damages is $890,000.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Potential Medical Malpractice Lawsuit
If you have suffered signs of colonoscopy complications, contact the Lawdragon 500 recognized attorneys at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico. Let the BMBF team help you process being hurt by a healthcare provider.
We’ve recovered individual settlement amounts up to $9,750,000. While the value of each case is different, you can rely on our trial-tested experience to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call today to learn more about your potential compensation for colonoscopy complications.
Phil Federico is a partner at Baird Mandalas Brockstedt & Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
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