COLUMBIA, SC – The Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A., has filed medical malpractice lawsuits on behalf of patients against two local healthcare practices for complications suffered following botched surgical procedures.

The first suit, filed against Kershaw County Medical Center, involves a surgical procedure in which the medical staff left a surgical sponge inside a patient. The legal filing states, “Nursing and medical staff at Kershaw County Medical Center left a surgical sponge or surgical gauze pad inside of [a patient]. This resulted in serious medical complications and required two additional surgical procedures to remove the sponge/gauze…”

The second case, filed against Premier Surgical Services, involved a botched surgical procedure and follow-up care. The legal filings in that case states that the doctor “failed to provide appropriate operative and post-operative care to [the patient] which led to a host of serious and debilitating complications, including the need for several additional surgical procedures.”

According to the Firm’s founding attorney, Robert Dodson, these types of incidents are very serious and life threatening, but are not uncommon. “Medical malpractice is a very serious and common problem. Over the years, I’ve handled a number of medical malpractice cases like these, where objects such as surgical sponges are inadvertently left inside of patients or the effects of substandard care result in procedures that would otherwise not be needed.”

He cited several studies that showed that medical malpractice results in injury or wrongful death of many thousands of patients a year.

• In 1999, a seminal study by the Institute of Medicine estimated between 44,000 and 98,000 patient deaths occur each year as a result of preventable medical malpractice by doctors and hospitals.
• A follow-up study in 2006 showed 1.5 million patients were harmed each year because of medication errors.
• The 2008 HealthGrades Patient Safety in American Hospitals study reported that patient safety incidents cost the federal Medicare program $8.8 billion and resulted in 238,337 potentially preventable deaths during 2004 through 2006.

The Law Offices of Robert Dodson, P.A., is a personal injury law firm in Columbia, S.C. dedicated to serving the needs of individuals harmed due to personal injury, auto accident, medical malpractice or on-the-job personal injuries. Robert Dodson is the founding attorney, backed by a capable staff of qualified paralegals and legal support. Robert personally handles all of the firm’s cases, so all clients receive his individual attention. The firm's commitment and dedication to professional, high-quality legal representation is what separates it from its competitors. For more information, call toll free 1-877-225-8896 or visit RobertDodsonLaw.com