Veterans and military families rely on New Mexico's VA medical centers for quality surgical care. But preventable errors still happen often. These mistakes can cause permanent injuries.
The Archuleta Law Firm's founder is both a lawyer and doctor. We understand medical standards and federal law. Our team has recovered over $145 million for clients over 25+ years.
If you suffered a surgical error at a VA facility, you have rights under federal law. You must know these rights to get compensation.
What Causes Surgical Errors at New Mexico Military & VA Hospitals?
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Failure to Follow Universal Protocol: Teams skip basic safety steps like checking patient ID and surgery site.
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Inadequate Pre-Operative Planning: Surgeons rush without reviewing test results or patient history.
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Poor Communication Between Surgical Team Members: Medical staff fail to share vital patient information.
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Retained Foreign Objects: Surgical tools get left inside patients due to poor counting methods.
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Inadequate Post-Operative Monitoring: Staff miss warning signs after surgery.
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Fatigue and Understaffing: Overworked teams make more mistakes.
New Mexico Facilities Where We Handle Surgical Errors Cases
We help patients from these facilities:
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Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center (Albuquerque): New Mexico's main VA surgery center.
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Kirtland Air Force Base Medical Clinic (Albuquerque): Serves active duty members and families.
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Cannon Air Force Base Medical Clinic (Clovis): Provides surgery for military personnel.
View all New Mexico VA & Military Facilities
Warning Signs of Surgical Error Medical Malpractice
- Surgery on wrong body part or wrong procedure
- Unexpected infections or complications requiring more surgery
- Surgical items left inside your body
- Nerve damage or paralysis not mentioned as risks
- Surgery without reviewing important test results
- Unexpected organ damage
- Poor post-surgery monitoring
Damages Available in New Mexico Surgical Errors Cases
Economic Damages
Victims can recover costs for:
- Future surgeries
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment
- Lost wages
- Medications
- Long-term care
Non-Economic Damages
Victims can get compensation for:
- Physical pain
- Emotional distress
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Mental trauma