Every year many Oregonians choose to go under the knife for the sake of outward appearances. Face lifts, liposuction, and tummy tucks can all help an individual reach his or her ideal of beauty, but they can also put a patient at risk of a serious medical mistake. In fact, a recently filed lawsuit claims a doctor mistake led to a 73-year-old man’s death.
The victim had gone to a doctor to have a neck and face lift. The surgery took nearly eight hours, requiring the man to recover overnight. However, instead of performing the operation in a hospital where the man could be properly watched overnight, the doctor performed the operation in his office and left the patient with only one person to watch over him throughout the night. The victim went into cardiac arrest and died. His family is now seeking compensatory damages, claiming their father would still be alive if the proper precautions would have been taken, including proper monitoring.
A fatal accident like this is nothing short of tragic. A victim’s family is often left stunned by their loss, only to be followed up with extreme sadness and rage. To complicate matters further, a family must often find a way to pay for their lost loved one’s medical expenses and funeral costs. Also, many families rely on their deceased loved one’s income, rendering it difficult to make ends meet.
Filing a wrongful death lawsuit like the one above can help bring comfort and financial relief. If negligence can be shown to have caused the deceased’s death, then compensation may be awarded to help cover certain damages, including medical costs, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. A family may also find comfort knowing that a negligent medical professional is held to answer for his or her wrongdoing, and that financial punishment is imposed.
Source: The Virginian Pilot, “Sons sue Va. Beach plastic surgeon after father dies,” Elisabeth Hulette, April 25, 2014