| Related Links: Coronary Artery Disease: What It Is, Risk Factors, What Happens If It Goes Untreated |
Think back to when your doctor sat you down and told you that one of your coronary arteries was 80 percent blocked and another was nearly 100 percent blocked. Do you remember the fear and hopelessness you felt? You had to put your life into your cardiologist's hands and allow them to place potentially lifesaving stents inside of you to open the arteries up. It's a lot to handle, both mentally and physically.
What would you do if you found out that your arteries were not actually that blocked and that the stent procedure you had to undergo was completely unnecessary? Sadly, this is a reality more and more patients are having to deal with.
It has been widely reported that some hospitals around the country have been performing stent placements in patients who did not require them. Even more alarming is the fact that these procedures weren't performed accidentally—they were performed completely on purpose. Why would a doctor perform a surgery like this that is totally unnecessary? The same reason that most people do illegal things: money. By performing unnecessary stent procedures, these hospitals were vastly increasing their profits with no regard for the health and wellbeing of their patients.
If someone who doesn't need a stent receives one, this does not mean they are going to encounter medical troubles. However, it does place them at a risk for complications that could arise directly as a result of the procedure.
Do you believe you may be the victim of unnecessary stenting in Texas, Oklahoma or Arkansas? Contact the cardiology malpractice attorneys at The Girards Law Firm today for a free consultation at 888.897.2762.