Would you get a lawyer?

This is sorta crazy
I had hernia repair in November @ Franklin Square Hosp
when I woke up from surgery they had knocked out my front tooth!
I was in shock, I at that point could care less about the hernia. I wanted my damn tooth!! ANyway noone at hosp would talk about it and the kind antheslogist (sp) had given my mother my tooth in a nice little speican cup...it is still there...
Anyway to make a long story shorter i hope
i have tried to call a few lawyers no one seems interested...But isnt my tooth worth somethin??
LOL Im 26 and should not have to wake up ever day and put my tooth flipper in because obviously someone was too rough with my mouth....uh that sound crazy but I dont know what to do. The head of anthesolgy said they may "help pay for part of the permanent replacement and then i have to sign off on something" But i feel like this should not have happened. PLus i had to go through thanksgiving and a funeral with NO tooth at all...These were peopl who have'nt seen me since weight loss and in many years and here I am toothless!!! Im so mad frustrated and dont know what should I do??
ANy help at all would be great !!!
THanks so much


Belinda

Belinda - I'm going to check with an attorney friend of mine who has an office in Essex.  Once I talk to him, I'll get back to you. And YES, I would now own Franklin Square Hospital Center. Keep in mind, I'm being a smart-aleck, trying to give you a chuckle, but now, you fit right in with all the people in their ER waiting room!!!!!!!!! Tia

Oh I would be pissed off and definitely finding a way to have them pay for all of it and more.   I hope tia gets some great answers for you. ((((hugs))))))

Thank you for your support

Wow, Belinda, sorry to hear that.  I think talking to lawyer would be good.  But, I do wonder how much of our rights are signed away in the release papers that we sign before any surgical procedure? 

Lawyer here.  Yes, I'd be upset, too. BUT.... As Ms. Poopie suggests, you do waive a lot when you sign the informed consent.  And, as I recall, chipped or broken teeth were one of the things listed in mine.   If you have diabetes, you're more at risk because it can affect the gums. The hospital won't talk with you because they're afraid that anything that gets said informally can be used against them in a lawsuit.  And they are right. Additionally, Maryland is a pretty tough state for med-mals if I recall correctly.  And on the scale of medical mistakes, this is pretty minor.  I have no professional experience in that area, though. It does no harm to have an initial consultation, as most lawyers give you the first one free.  However, personally, I wouldn't call a lawyer because I could have the tooth fixed for what I'd pay for him to make a phone call to the hospital and/or anesthesiologist.  An honest lawyer would tell you that in the first consultation.

Belinda ,  I had this happen the same damn way . OMG when I read this .. I cired .  I tried to sue the hospital where mine happend , but to no avail , they refused to pay . At the time of surgery , they told me that " I bit down on the mouth piece  " BS ..  My dentist said they clearly dropped something on my face , as I was bruised .  I had 2 caps replaced .. not to mention how  humiliating this was .  You can try to sue .. but for me I had not luck .. and  was out of pocket 1600 bucks .  Sorry this happend to you ..  Tink

Belinda, I am a nurse, and sorry to say but possible tooth loss was probably listed on your consent as something that could happen.

If I'm not mistaken I believe that tooth loss was one of the things that was included in the waiver I had to sign.  I can tell you that when I was about 11 I had my front tooth knocked out with a cue ball and have been able to keep it bonded instead of using a crown.  I prefer the look of the bond as it is much easier to match to your other teeth (color, size, etc). Sorry to hear you went through that ... I would have been so pissed!