General Surgery Expert Witnesses
Highly qualified experts for medical malpractice and injury claims
General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal organs, including the intestines, esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and thyroid gland. General surgeons are medical doctors trained to perform a wide variety of procedures, including gallbladder removal, hernia repair, appendectomy, and treatment of various types of cancer.
In the United States, general surgeons must complete medical school, followed by a five-year general surgery residency program. Board Certification for general surgeons is administered by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). General surgeons may sub-specialize in several types of surgery, including:
- Bariatric surgery
- Cardiac surgery
- Thoracic surgery
- Trauma surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Colorectal surgery
- Breast surgery
- Endovascular surgery
- Endocrine surgery
- Dermatological surgery
What is general surgery malpractice?
General surgeons are among the medical specialties with the highest likelihood of being sued for malpractice because they perform invasive procedures that can have significant consequences for malpractice victims. Some examples of general surgery malpractice include:
- Wrong-site surgery – performing surgery on the wrong body part or the wrong patient.
- Damaging organs, nerves, or blood vessels during surgery.
- Leaving a surgical instrument inside the patient’s body.
- Failing to provide adequate postoperative care.
- Failing to follow infection control protocols during surgery.
An experienced, Board-Certified general surgeon can offer an opinion on whether standards of care were followed during surgery and whether malpractice was the cause of a patient’s injuries.
The role of a general surgeon as an expert witness
Because many types of injuries affect the abdomen and digestive tract, a general surgeon can be a valuable expert witness in several types of injury and disability matters. A general surgeon may offer an opinion on the causes of an abdominal injury as well as the long-term cost and potential complications of surgical procedures to repair an injury. Because of the high cost and prolonged recovery time associated with surgery, a general surgeon may play an essential role in calculating damages related to the patient's medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other related costs.
Find the general surgery expert witness you need
Legal cases involving surgery can have exceptionally high stakes, and the right medical expert makes all the difference. The Rieback Medical-Legal Consultants team includes experienced, Board-Certified general surgeons who are prepared to offer deposition and trial testimony. Contact us today to find the right expert for your case.