Earlier this week, our blog took a closer look at appendicitis, a condition that is perhaps more common than most people think here in the U.S. and which can be treated effectively through a surgical procedure known as an appendectomy.

The simple truth when it comes to appendicitis is that it’s relatively rare to see instances where a person shows up to the emergency room complaining of severe abdominal distress, only to be misdiagnosed with some sort of gastrointestinal disorder, sent home and then come back later with a ruptured appendix.

Indeed, appendicitis is something that most physicians can capably diagnose and treat via conventional or laparoscopic surgery.

This is certainly not to say, however, that serious medical mistakes relating to the treatment of appendicitis can’t occur.

Some scenarios where medical negligence could conceivably occur in the treatment of appendicitis include:

• A physician misdiagnoses appendicitis as a gallbladder issue, bladder/urinary tract infection, intestinal infection, Crohn’s disease or gastritis.
• A physician makes a surgical error during the appendectomy that results in serious bodily harm.
• A physician and/or hospital staff provide substandard post-operative care.

The primary point to take away from all this is that there are multiple ways that something can go wrong regarding appendicitis, and that the explanations provided by the physician or the hospital as to what went wrong may not tell the whole story.

That’s precisely why it’s so important to speak with a legal professional if you have even the slightest doubt in your mind concerning the adverse outcome of an appendectomy.

At Richards & Richards, LLP, our lawyers have the skill, experience and dedication needed to uncover what really happened and, if necessary, hold the responsible parties accountable in a court of law.