People in North Carolina who are considering plastic surgery should keep in mind that like all medical procedures, it carries a certain amount of risk. One young woman who had breast augmentation surgery in 2013 fell into a coma that lasted two weeks. She continues to be affected by the surgery and can only stand for a few minutes at a time and speak a few words. The woman has a son that her family is struggling to support.
The woman had the procedure done at a clinic in Florida. She fell into a coma after her blood pressure and heart rate dropped, and the doctor who administered her anesthesia attempted to revive her. The Florida Department of Health investigated and found that he had failed to provide an adequate airway during that effort.
The doctor pleaded guilty in 2006 to charges related to illegally selling pills online and served a prison term, but his license was not revoked. Following this case, he was required to pay a $10,000 fine and take 15 hours of continuing medical education, but he is still allowed to practice.
As this case demonstrates, even when a doctor has faced criminal charges or has acted in ways that result in harm to a patient, that doctor might still be practicing. A person who is harmed as a result of surgical errors or other mistakes might want to speak to an attorney. The effects can be life-changing, as they were for this woman, and a person might require long-term medical care afterward. Dependents may suffer financially as well. It may be possible to file a civil lawsuit against the medical professionals responsible for the error. Their insurers may offer an out-of-court settlement or the case might go to court.