You may take accountability for getting involved in an incident that led to you breaking a bone. Or, at the very least, you may know not to blame your doctor for this accident. However, you may start developing resentment towards them if your broken bone is not mending in the way you anticipated or were promised. With that being said, please follow along to find out whether you can sue your doctor over your broken bone and how a proficient New York City hospital negligence attorney at Mark L. Bodner, P.C., can help build your case.
Under what circumstances can I sue my doctor for my broken bone?
You may assume that one of the most common reasons why patients visit a hospital is for broken bones. With this, you may believe that repairing a broken bone is one of the easiest, most straightforward treatments a doctor can facilitate. However, if they act negligently at any point in the treatment journey, this may simply not be the case. Therefore, you may have valid grounds to sue your doctor over your broken bone if the following elements apply:
- You were the patient of the doctor in question, and you trusted them with your healthcare for your broken bone.
- Your doctor breached your trust by failing to treat your broken bone with the level of care established by the overall medical community.
- Your broken bone became more severe or led to more serious health complications than when you originally visited the hospital.
- The complications associated with your broken bone have caused you to incur significant economic and non-economic damages.
What is considered negligent treatment of a broken bone?
You may still be unclear as to whether your specific case qualifies for a medical malpractice claim against your doctor. Well, below are more specific examples of negligent treatment of a broken bone, which are hopefully more closely related to you:
- A doctor may fail to order necessary imaging, mistake a broken bone for a sprain or strain, and administer the wrong treatment plan.
- A doctor may fail to recognize and treat a nonunion (broken bone fragments do not reconnect) after installing a loose cast.
- A doctor may fail to recognize and treat a compartment syndrome (muscle swelling that cuts off blood flow) after installing a tight cast.
- A doctor may fail to install necessary plates, screws, or rods during surgery and cause malunion (bone healing in a misaligned position).
- A doctor may fail to practice proper sterilization during a surgical procedure and induce a surgical site infection.
- A doctor may fail to handle surgical tools carefully, put too much pressure on the nerves, cut them, and create nerve damage.
We understand just how overwhelming all of this can be for you. So, if you have any remaining questions, please consult with a talented New York City hospital negligence attorney. The team at Mark L. Bodner, P.C., is willing and able to provide you with legal assistance in any capacity.