Medical Malpractice or Negligence

On July 3, 2001 I had a breast reduction. Five days later when they took the tape off, there was an odor. My Dr. told me to put silvadene cream on it. I continued to do this and approx a week later while applying the cream my left breast started pouring bloody fluid from the incision. I went to the dr but could only see nurse. She said it was nothing to worry about. Called Dr because of the pain and odor. Nothing to worry about, they told me. Went to see my regular dr and they did a culture and found out I had to serious infections going on. My regular Dr confered with the Dr that did the surgery and said it wasn't necessary to be on antibiotics and to keep applying cream. I was just experiencing delayed healing. Three days later I went to our local emergency room because of the pain and I couldn't take the odor any more. (smelled like rotting flesh). The local DR debrided my breasts and cleared the infection but also left me with a gaping whole in each breast. Went to see the Dr that did the surgery and they ordered home health care to come in and pack my breasts twice a day. I was still in alot of pain and I wanted the holes closed but they were now considered dirty wounds. I went through twice a day very painful dressing changes for several weeks. Calling the Dr that operated on me on a daily basis complaining of the pain and odor. That dr went on vacation for a month and left me in the care of her colleague. The infection kept growing. Never did they take a culture or prescribe an antibiotic. I complained to them how nauseated I was and they told me to stop taking my pain meds. No way was I going to do that! They finally put me on a antibiotic but it made me even sicker. In August, the attending physician finally admitted me to hospital. I was there for five days and was being pumped with antibiotics and pain killers. Two weeks later, I was scheduled to have a skin graph. When my original surgeon came back and saw my breasts, the day of the second surgery, she looked horrified and said she could not do a skin graph and instead did another breast reduction taking the size of an orange out of my left and the size of a lemon out of my right. Now my breasts are deformed and I will still have to have another surgery. I want to know if you think I may have a case of medical negligence. My reasoning is, they did not treat the infection until it had gotten so bad that my skin had melted (rotted) off of my breasts causing me to have another reduction which has now left my breast deformed. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks
I live in NH

While I am not familar with the laws of your state, nevertheless, assuming all the facts are as represented, I would think that you might have a very strong medical malpractice case. I urge you to immediately contact your state's bar association. Most have an attorney referral system. If they don't, then they probably can refer you to a local bar association which can provide a med. mal. referral. Don't sit on this. Most states have very short statute of limitations with this type of law suit.

Good Luck.

[vrzirn]

Unfortunately, infection, necrosis of skin and fat and even loss of nipple due to necrosis are possible complications following reduction mammaplasty. However, I agree that the post-operative care you received, in light of your continued complaints and the symptoms you describe, was far less than that expected from a board-certified plastic surgeon.
I am a bit concerned about your remark that the prescribed anti-biotics made you sick. Does that mean you did not take them?
I hope that you have kept a documented account of all the events and taken some pictures. I would certainly see an attorney. He will review all of your records thoroughly to determine if you have cause for a lawsuit.Quite often, what is perceived by the patient as mal-practice and negligence is interpreted as an unfortunate "bad result" by the insurance company and the courts.
Repeat reduction mammaplasty is an uncommon procedure and there are no standards regarding positive results. Good luck.
By the way, the "consents" you signed may have contained a mediation clause.