In the critically acclaimed drama Grey?s Anatomy, producer Shonda Rhimes and her team of co-producers and writers weave medical terminology and actual medical procedures into their plotlines. Although the drama can seem a bit unrealistic for what may happen in your local hospital, the diagnoses and surgeries are all too real for many people. The show deals problems that hit home with many viewers: cancer, injuries, unsuccessful surgeries, and facing one?s mortality are common themes throughout the show.
In episode 9, season 6, the chief of surgery, Dr. Richard Webber, conducted a surgery with a potentially grave mistake. An ER patient named Sheldon came into Seattle Grace Mercy West hospital needing an emergency cholecystectomy ? a surgical procedure to remove his gall bladder. The gallbladder collects and stores the digestive fluid produced in your liver called bile. If the bile seeps into other parts of your body, you can suffer from a host of terrible side effects.
Dr. Webber completed the surgery, but his patient began to turn yellow in recovery. This clear sign of jaundice means Webber must have clipped the common bile duct while operating on the patient. A cut or nicked bile duct is a serious surgical error and a form of medical malpractice.
Although Grey?s Anatomy is a fictitious show, medical malpractice happens all too often. It is reported that about 225,000 people die from medical malpractice every year. Luckily, Dr. Miranda Bailey was able to fix the error. Had the patient decided to hire an attorney for medical malpractice, the hospital could have suffered extreme losses and the patient may have been entitled to compensation.
If you or someone you love suffered an injury or death from a medical mistake, consider how a malpractice lawyer can help you. Medical malpractice lawyers will fight to compensate you for the additional pain and suffering brought on by a medical mistake.