Amputation is a medical procedure in which part of the body is removed, often a limb. Even though they are usually necessary to treat serious medical conditions or accidents, amputations can be physically and emotionally painful for individuals. Car accidents, workplace accidents, industrial accidents, and medical misconduct are the most frequent reasons for amputations. Amputation is deemed medically required in cases of substantial limb injury, peripheral artery disease (PAD), diabetic complications, or congenital limb abnormalities. Patients expect that when they have an amputation, it will be done properly and competently. Unfortunately, amputation medical malpractice is not uncommon, and as a result, patients in New York may be at risk of severe harm.


Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider, such as a doctor, nurse, or surgeon, fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably prudent practitioner would in the same circumstance. The maxim "primum non nocere," which translates to "first, do no harm," is one that physicians are obliged to abide by. A surgeon may commit medical malpractice when conducting an amputation if they mistakenly diagnose a medical issue that might have been treated without an amputation, carry out the treatment improperly, or fail to provide the patient with necessary post-operative care. Medical negligence also includes postponing care for an illness that can be treated, resulting in an amputation. For instance, poor circulation and nerve damage in persons with diabetes often result in foot ulcers. A doctor can put off treatment, which might cause a bone infection. Before, the patient had the choice of receiving antibiotics or seeing a specialist, but now amputation is the sole course of treatment.


Wrong-site surgery, which happens when a surgeon operates on the incorrect limb, is one prevalent type of amputation medical misconduct. This could occur if the surgeon makes a mistake in the patient's identification, the surgical site's confirmation, or the surgical team's communication. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, up to 3% of medical professionals have performed an amputation on the wrong limb. Surgery performed on the incorrect site can have serious adverse consequences, including the unnecessary amputation of a healthy limb and the continuation of the underlying medical condition that necessitated the procedure in the first place. Wrong-site surgery can also have detrimental psychological consequences on patients, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), medical anxiety, depression, a decline in quality of life, and the need for treatment through therapy.


Failure to recognize and treat a problem that could have been treated without amputation constitutes another form of amputation medical negligence. For instance, a surgeon may advise amputation if a patient has a bone infection in order to stop the infection from spreading. However, amputation might not have been required if the infection could have been managed with prescription drugs.  A healthcare provider may be held accountable for medical negligence if they fail to identify the illness or treat the patient correctly.


If you or a loved one has been the victim of amputation medical misconduct in New York, it is critical that you talk with a competent medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can assist you in understanding your legal rights and alternatives, as well as in obtaining compensation for your injuries and other damages. Call the Licatesi Law Group at (516) 227-2662 right away for a free consultation.