Trauma Surgery

Brien Roche

Trauma surgery recognizes what is known as the “golden hour”.  That golden hour is the 60 minutes following the injury.  It is during that 60 minutes that the patient’s outcome is often fixed. As a result time is of the essence.

Trauma Surgery Cases

In looking at a trauma negligence case from a medical malpractice point of view there are several things to consider:

• The emergency room physicians may be liable for failing to promptly identify the seriousness of the injury. They must call the trauma surgeon promptly.
• The trauma surgeon may be liable for failing to promptly respond. What are the time limits set by the hospital?
• The hospital may be liable for failing to make available operative space for trauma patients.  If the operating rooms are all busy with elective surgeries, that may be negligence.
• Reviewing the tape recordings between the ambulance and the emergency room staff may be critical. They may have valuable info.
• If a hospital is certified by a State agency as a trauma center, then get that certification. Also any records associated with it.
• What other hospital does this trauma doctor have commitments at? Was he in fact available for a trauma emergency call.
• The marketing materials published by or on behalf of the hospital may show how it portrays itself to the public as a trauma center.

Contact a Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of trauma surgery negligence, contact us.

Also see other related articles on this site dealing with medical malpractice.
For more info on trauma see the pages on Wikipedia.