Cleveland Misdiagnosis · Surgical Error · Malpractice Lawyers
Bowel perforation is a serious life-threatening complication that can cause prolonged hospitalization and even death. When the bowel or colon is torn, perforated or nicked, its contents spill into the abdominal area or the peritoneum. Because bowel contents are highly caustic and contain bacteria, a severe inflammatory and infectious process — called peritonitis — usually results. The first priority when treating this condition is to stop the continued seepage of bowel into the abdomen. This is done by re-routing the portion of the colon above the tear, perforation or nick to the outside of the body. This is called a "colostomy." Many patients have both emotional and functional difficulties with colostomy. Fortunately, the colostomy usually can be reversed and the colon reconnected within six to nine months. Even after the colostomy is reversed, however, patients typically require time for their bowel functions and stamina to return to normal.
Unfortunately, some surgical procedures carry a risk of bowel perforation. Depending on the procedure, this risk may be truly unavoidable; alternatively, it may be preventable with proper surgical technique. In either event, the patient should be informed of this risk prior to undergoing the surgery. Likewise, the patient should be advised if the surgical approach is "novel" or "experimental." If a surgery is "novel" or "experimental," the surgeon should provide the patient with information regarding the traditional surgical approaches.
In surgeries where bowel perforation is a recognized complication, the patient's care providers should be alert to this possibility and detect a bowel perforation as soon as possible. Ideally, the perforation is detected during the surgery that caused the perforation. In this situation, the colon can be repaired within the operating room. Generally speaking, the earlier a perforation is repaired, the better the patient's outcome. As such, the prompt detection of a colon perforation is critical.
If you or your loved one has suffered or continues to suffer from a perforated bowel, you need to contact an experienced trial lawyer at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber. We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. Our attorneys can help you determine whether the doctor violated the standard of care, and whether the damages involved warrant legal action. As with any legal question, the specific facts of a situation are what determine whether you have a viable legal claim for the suffering you or your loved one endured.
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Should you file a lawsuit? You won't know until you talk to an experienced attorney. Contact us or call us at (877) 696-3303 to arrange a free, confidential consultation. You can get answers, find out what happened, and help prevent similar needless injuries from happening to other people, too.
We handle our cases on a contingency-fee basis: if we can't help you recover money damages, you won't pay attorneys' fees. When you meet with us to discuss your case, it will be with an attorney, not an investigator or paralegal. We also have Spanish and Ukrainian interpreters available. Contact us today to get us started on investigating your claim from our Cleveland headquarters.
Experienced, Sophisticated, Reputable.
For more than 65 years, the attorneys at Spangenberg Shibley & Liber have represented victims of perforated bowels and perforated colons in lawsuits in Ohio and beyond. Our attorneys have access to the most sophisticated technical and medical resources available to investigate and prepare your case to win. When the insurance company lawyers see our name on the lawsuit, they know it is well researched, carefully investigated and thoroughly prepared. For you, that means insurance company lawyers come to the table prepared to discuss a full and fair settlement - or we'll see them in court.
Remember, if you have a claim, there is most likely a statute of limitations clock running, after which you won't have the right to file a lawsuit. Protect your rights by contacting us today or calling us at (877) 696-3303.
