Colonoscopies are widely used for diagnosis and are clearly the gold standard for colon cancer detection and recommended for all adults ages 50 and older. Colonoscopies have saved an untold number of Maryland lives, fighting the insidious disease of colon cancer by allowing for crucial early detection. Colon cancer is reported to be the second most diagnosed cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer death in the U. Most colonoscopy injuries are not the result of medical malpractice, but, some are.
If you think your injuries during a colonoscopy may have been caused by a medical mistake, call , or get a free online consultation. Colonoscopies are usually well tolerated by the patient; however, injury can occur when the doctor performing the procedure is not skilled and does not perform the test with the appropriate level of care. Potential injuries which may arise include hemorrhaging following polyp removal, aggravation of underlying bowel disorders e.
Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. Certainly, not all of these injuries are from medical malpractice.
In fact, as discussed below, the vast majority of bowel perforations are not the result of medical malpractice. Many colonoscopy-related problems are, however, the result of a mistake by the doctor performing the procedure.
Reported rates of serious injury due to colonoscopies vary in the literature between 0. The risk of bowel perforation is estimated to be 0. Perforation of the bowel can lead to sepsis, which can be fatal. Sepsis occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream, and the immune system goes into overdrive. This can result in organ dysfunction.
