Types Of Gynecological Malpractice
Harte Law, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, has handled hundreds of gynecological malpractice cases across Canada, including cases involving:
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Every year, doctors across Canada perform thousands of major gynecological procedures and surgeries. Mistakes by gynecologists can leave permanent physical and emotional scars. When things go wrong, many women hesitate to consult a lawyer due to the intimate nature of the medical treatment they received, and as a result, careless doctors are not held accountable and innocent victims are not compensated.
Our firm provides a safe environment for women to discuss their concerns with knowledgeable and compassionate professionals.
Birth injuries
Injuries to either the baby and/or mother.
Prenatal screening
A failure to order or conduct appropriate tests during pregnancy that might have identified birth defects, denying the parents their right to choose to terminate the pregnancy.
Fertility
The misuse of fertility medications leading to multiple births, which have a high risk of resulting in babies with cerebral palsy or other brain injuries.
Gynecologic surgery
Gynecology cases can arise when doctors perform unnecessary procedures; make mistakes during the surgery; or fail to identify and treat complications after the operation.
Bladder/bowel damage
Errors during gynecologic surgery can lead to bladder and bowel damage if surgeons are not careful when handling surgical equipment and careful to identify major anatomic landmarks.
Recto-vaginal fistula
Recto-vaginal fistulas can result in bowel leakage through the vagina and may be caused by negligence during childbirth or pelvic surgery.
Misdiagnosed cancer
Like most other forms of cancer, colon, uterine, cervical, pelvic and ovarian cancer requires early detection and treatment to improve prognosis.
Common Mistakes
Gynecological procedures are generally safe, but medical errors still occur. Red flags that may signal malpractice include:
- Hysterectomy performed on women under 30 years old (unless it's for cancer)
- Significant bowel damage during surgery
- Unplanned readmission within several days of an operation
- Significant postoperative infection
- Unexpected death following any gynecological procedure
- Unplanned admission of a day surgery patient
- Gynecological surgery that requires more than two units of blood or where postoperative hemoglobin falls dramatically
- Unplanned removal, injury or repair of an organ during an operation
- Discrepancy between the preoperative diagnosis and postoperative pathology findings
Here to Help
If you have experienced a serious, lasting injury or lost a member of your family as a result of medical error, our respected and trusted medical malpractice lawyers may be able to help. To explore a relationship with Harte Law, schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced team of Toronto-based medical malpractice professionals. Call us at 289-695-2450 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.